Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Risk of Microvascular Complications Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Social isolation and loneliness are important social determinants that are associated with adverse cardiometabolic health. Individuals with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness. However, the relationship of social isolation or loneliness with diabetic microvascular complications (DMCs) remains unclear. Our study used the UK Biobank study data to investigate the associations of social isolation and loneliness with the development of DMCs. We found that social isolation and loneliness were independently associated with a higher risk of incident DMCs. Remarkably, their association with DMCs was comparable to those of other lifestyle factors such as smoking, blood pressure, and physical activity. These findings collectively imply that social isolation and loneliness are 2 important potentially modifiable risk factors for DMCs among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.