Originally reported November 11, 2026.
People with type 2 diabetes do not all face the same pattern of complications. A study by researchers at Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, published in Cardiovascular Diabetology, used seven routine clinical metabolic indicators to identify three groups with differing patterns of associated conditions.
- Obesity, high blood pressure and abnormal blood lipids: This group showed higher risks of major blood-vessel disease other than heart attack, diabetic kidney disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and Parkinson’s disease. Lu Jin, director of endocrinology at Shanghai Changhai Hospital, described excess weight—particularly abdominal fat—alongside elevated blood pressure, liver enzymes and triglycerides, and lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol as typical features.
- High blood sugar and high blood lipids: Higher-risk conditions in this group included heart attack, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lu noted that patients in this group are not necessarily severely overweight.
- Higher total and HDL cholesterol: The study associated this pattern with increased risks of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. The article cautioned against judging overall lipid health from HDL alone.
Lu said the research-based categories may help doctors assess where a patient’s risks lie, but patients should not classify themselves from lab results or change medication on that basis. Lu recommended a full yearly review of weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, and liver and kidney function, with a clinician assessing the results together.
These are reported risk patterns, not a diagnosis or a prediction of which complication an individual will develop.
Source: lifetimes.cn (originally published 2026-11-11 10:22 UTC+8)