Young people hospitalized for diabetes have an increased risk of death in the following 3 years, not only from natural causes but also from suicide, according to an article in the March 27th issue of the British Medical Journal. British researchers analyzed all U.K. hospital admissions from 1968 to 1996 for diabetes in people age 30 years or less. Deaths were monitored for 3 years per patient through 1999.

The researchers identified 4,992 admissions for diabetes among people under 30 years; there were 58 deaths during the 3-year follow up period (29 from diabetes, 14 from other diseases, 9 from suicide, and 6 from accidents).

Although, in absolute terms, death in young people with diabetes is uncommon, the current database study showed that death within 3 years of hospital admission was 9 times more common than in the general population of peers, according to the authors.

Physicians need to be aware of the vulnerability of this group to various factors, including those leading to suicide.