CVD is the primary cause of death among 55% of patients with diabetes compared with 31% of deaths in the general population.
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) accounts for about 40% of deaths in patients with diabetes.
The risk of mortality due to diseases of the heart is 2 to 4 times higher among patients with diabetes than in persons without diabetes.
Data from a 10-year period show a 37% increase in the number of hospitalizations that listed major CVD as the primary diagnosis and diabetes as a secondary diagnosis.

Geiss LS, et al. In Diabetes in America, 2nd ed. NIH Publication No. 95-1468.1995:243,558.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Vital Statistics Reports. 2000;48:5.