STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Sepsis is a life-threatening overreaction of your immune system to infection, causing widespread inflammation and organ failure when not treated quickly

• A large Australian study found people with Type 2 diabetes were twice as likely to develop sepsis, with the highest risk seen in men, smokers, and younger adults aged 41 to 50

• Chronic high blood sugar and insulin resistance weaken immune defenses, impairing white blood cell function, slowing wound healing, and allowing common infections like urinary or skin infections to escalate into sepsis

• Managing diabetes through blood sugar control, physical activity, sunlight exposure, and eliminating vegetable oils and refined sugar restores insulin sensitivity and lowers the likelihood of severe infection

• You can further reduce infection and sepsis risk by maintaining wound hygiene, treating infections promptly, eating nutrient-rich foods, managing chronic conditions, and avoiding habits like nail-biting

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Sepsis is one of the most dangerous medical emergencies you can face. Physicians define it as a “life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.”1 In the United States, more than 1.7 million people develop sepsis each year, and about 350,000 die from it, making it a leading cause of hospital deaths.2 Globally, it accounts for one in every five deaths, reflecting its scale as a public health crisis.3

A recent study presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes is now drawing renewed attention to the connection between sepsis and one of the most common chronic conditions in the country — Type 2 diabetes. With more than 38 million Americans living with diabetes, understanding how this condition may sharply increase the already staggering risk of sepsis has never been more urgent.4

What Is Sepsis?

Sepsis develops when an ordinary infection sets off an uncontrolled inflammatory response that spreads throughout your body. Instead of containing the threat, your immune system overreacts, damaging blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, and starving vital organs of oxygen. Without immediate medical intervention, this runaway process can lead to multi-organ failure and death.5 6

• How the inflammatory cascade unfolds — When immune cells detect invading microbes, they release cytokines, which are chemical messengers that help coordinate the body’s defense. If this release becomes excessive, it can spiral into a “cytokine storm,” which causes the inner lining of your blood vessels (endothelium) to become leaky, allowing fluid to seep into surrounding tissues.

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  As fluid leaks from blood vessels and pressure falls, circulation becomes sluggish. Tiny clots begin to form, and the supply of oxygen to organs diminishes, forcing the heart to work harder to maintain blood flow. Without rapid medical intervention, this imbalance leads to cascading organ failure — first the lungs, then the liver, kidneys, and brain.7 8

• Sepsis unfolds along a spectrum — Severe sepsis describes the point at which organ damage becomes evident, such as reduced urine output or difficulty breathing. Septic shock is the next stage, marked by a dangerous drop in blood pressure that requires intensive care to restore circulation.9

• Many cases begin with common infections — Urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, skin wounds, and mild intestinal infections are among the most common sources of sepsis. The Sepsis Alliance notes that roughly 80% of cases begin in the community rather than in hospitals, meaning the process often starts well before medical care is received.10

• Recognizing the signs early is vital — Because many symptoms of sepsis resemble those of a cold or the flu, they’re often overlooked until the condition worsens. The key difference is how quickly they progress. If you suspect sepsis, seek medical attention immediately, as timely treatment is crucial to prevent severe complications. Common warning signs include:11 12 13

  • Fever with chills or shivering

  • Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)

  • Rapid breathing (tachypnea)

  • Excessive sweating (diaphoresis)

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

  • Confusion or disorientation

  • Slurred speech

  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

  • Severe muscle pain

  • Low urine output

  • Cold and clammy skin and/or skin rash

• Remembering the warning signs — The Sepsis Alliance recommends using the acronym TIME to help you remember the main warning signs:14

  • T — Temperature — Is it higher or lower than normal?

  • I — Infection — Signs of an infection now or recently

  • M — Mental decline — Mental changes such as confusion or unusual sleepiness

  • E — Extremely ill — Extreme pain or feeling severely unwell

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  Another easy way to remember the signs is the SEPSIS acronym:15

  • S — Shivering, fever, or chills

  • E — Extreme pain or discomfort

  • P — Pale, clammy skin

  • S — Sleepiness, confusion, or disorientation

  • I — “I feel like I might die”

  • S — Shortness of breath

Certain conditions weaken your immune defenses and make infections harder to control. Older age, recent surgery, hospitalization, immune-suppressing medications, and chronic illnesses all heighten the risk of sepsis.16 Among these risk factors, Type 2 diabetes has emerged as a particularly important factor.

Large-Scale Australian Study Finds Sepsis Twice as Common in Type 2 Diabetes

In the featured study, researchers from the University of Western Australia drew from the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II, a large community-based project conducted in a multi-ethnic urban region of 157,000 residents. It followed 1,430 adults with Type 2 diabetes and 5,720 matched individuals without diabetes, enrolled between 2008 and 2011.17

Each participant was tracked through linked health records for up to 10 years, until a first episode of sepsis, death, or the end of 2021. The goal was to provide data on sepsis incidence among people with Type 2 diabetes — a link that earlier research had suggested but not defined precisely.18 19

• Sepsis occurred twice as often in those with diabetes — During more than 73,000 person-years of follo