Men who are always stressed have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than men who are not stressed, a new study has found.

Swedish scientists looked at almost 7,000 men who were taking part in a long-term population-based study. None of the men had any history of diabetes, heart disease or stroke at the beginning of the study. However, around 15% were determined to suffer from ‘permanent stress'.

The men were monitored over a 35-year period and during this time, almost 900 developed diabetes.

The study found that men who are permanently stressed have a 45% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to men who have little or no stress in their lives.

The results stood even when other factors were taken into account, such as age, body mass index (BMI), activity levels and blood pressure.

"Today, stress is not recognised as a preventable cause of diabetes. However our study shows that there is an independent link between permanent stress and the risk of developing diabetes, which underlines the importance of preventive measure," the team from the University of Gothenburg said.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Diabetic Medicine.