8 Healthy Habits Linked to Lower Death Risk in Diabetes

What Was Studied and Why It Matters

Researchers wanted to know whether following eight core healthy habits — together called Life's Essential 8 (LE8) — could actually reduce the risk of dying for people living with overlapping diabetes, heart disease, and kidney problems. This combination of conditions is now recognized by the American Heart Association as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, and it affects tens of millions of Americans.

Until now, nobody had tested whether these eight habits made a difference depending on how advanced a person's CKM syndrome was. This study, published in the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal in 2025, set out to answer that question using real-world data from over 9,000 Americans tracked for nearly eight years.

What Are the 8 Habits?

• Eating a quality diet
• Getting regular physical activity
• Avoiding nicotine and tobacco
• Getting enough healthy sleep
• Maintaining a healthy body weight (BMI)
• Keeping blood lipids (cholesterol) in a healthy range
• Managing blood sugar (glycemic control)
• Keeping blood pressure under control

Each habit was scored from 0 to 100, and all eight were combined into a total LE8 score.

What Did the Study Find?

The results were encouraging at every stage of disease. For every 10-point improvement in the healthy behaviors score:

• People in the earliest stages of CKM syndrome (stages 0–1) saw a 22% lower risk of dying from any cause
• People in more advanced stages (stages 2–3, where diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease is already present) still saw a 13% lower risk of dying

Crucially, the benefit was linear — meaning every improvement, no matter how small, counted. There was no threshold you had to cross before the habits started helping. Whether someone was just beginning to show metabolic risk or already managing multiple conditions, better habits consistently meant a lower chance of dying during the study period.

What This Means for Real Patients

If you or a loved one is managing diabetes — especially alongside high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or kidney concerns — this research sends a powerful message: it is never too late, and no improvement is too small.

You don't need a perfect score to benefit. Sleeping better, cutting back on sodium, walking more, or quitting smoking all move the needle in a meaningful direction. For people managing blood sugar daily, consistent monitoring is one of the most practical ways to stay on top of glycemic control — one of the eight habits measured in this study. Reliable, affordable supplies from MDS Diabetes can make that daily habit easier to maintain.

Doctors and care teams may also use this research to start conversations about lifestyle earlier — even before a diagnosis becomes serious — because the data clearly shows that early action pays off the most.

Bottom Line

A landmark national study confirms that practicing eight key healthy behaviors meaningfully lowers the risk of death for people across all stages of diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. The more habits you improve — and the sooner you start — the greater your protection. Talk to your healthcare provider about which of the Life's Essential 8 areas offer you the biggest opportunity for improvement today.