The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the risk of having a stroke, according to a new report from the Cleveland Clinic.

The study involved 3,300 senior citizens from New York City with no history of stroke. About 22 percent of the people had diabetes at the start of the study and another 10 percent developed diabetes during the study. Over a 9-year follow up period, there were 244 reported strokes.

The study found when compared to people who don’t have diabetes, the risk of stroke increases significantly every year a person lived with the disease. After 10 years, stroke risk tripled. Previous studies have found stroke risk is two to four times higher among people with diabetes.

Researchers took into account other factors that influence stroke such as age, smoking habits, physical activity and history of heart disease.

The research is published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.

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