SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A new study has proven that veterans with PTSD and Type 2 Diabetes can improve diabetes outcomes by successfully treating PTSD.

The study focused on the outcomes of more than 10,000 U.S. military veterans who have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Type 2 Diabetes.

Around 65% of veterans who participated in the study were more than 50 years old. More than 90% of study participants were men.

The study, titled Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Type 2 Diabetes Outcomes in Veterans, was conducted by Jeffrey F. Scherrer, Joanne Salas, Wenjin Wang, Kenneth E. Freedland, Patrick J Lustman, Paula P. Schnurr, Beth E. Cohen, Allan S. Jaffe, and Matthew J. Friedman. It was published on Aug. 1, 2024.

Veterans between the ages of 18 and 49 who no longer met the criteria for PTSD also had a lower risk of insulin initiation.

Thirty-one percent of veterans in the study cohort were Black, 62% were white, and 5% were listed as “other race.” Veterans who no longer met PTSD criteria and did not have depression were also associated with a lower risk of insulin initiation.

The study concluded that veterans with PTSD and Type 2 Diabetes who no longer meet the criteria for PTSD may see a reduced chance of microvascular complications.