Recurrent vascular events partially explain association between diabetes and poor prognosis in young ischemic stroke patients

•Analyse factors associated with long-term prognosis in young ischemic stroke.•Only diabetes mellitus (DM) was associated with poor prognosis, odds ratio of 9.01.•Other demographic and traditional cardiovascular risk factors did not affect outcome.•Comparing DM with non-DM, recurrent vascular events was associated with poor outcome.•DM has an effect at the early stage itself and an independent effect.