TYPE 2 DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE

Heart disease and stroke are the most common life-threatening consequences of diabetes. Indeed, men and women with diabetes are more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack or stroke, compared to people who do not suffer from the condition.

However, there is plenty of good news because improving the efficient management of type 2 diabetes by boosting insulin sensitivity can greatly reduce the risk of developing heart disease. The key is to lose weight via a balanced, nutritious diet and regular exercise to reverse Insulin Resistance - the imbalance of glucose and insulin in the bloodstream.

Most of the cardiovascular complications related to diabetes concern the way the heart pumps blood through the body. Diabetes often changes the chemical make-up of some of the substances found in the blood, causing blood vessels to narrow or to clog up completely in a process called atherosclerosis.

Diabetes seems to speed up atherosclerosis, which is also called hardening of the arteries or coronary artery disease. It is crucial for individuals with diabetes to do everything they can to guard against heart disease because the statistics make for grim reading:

• a) cardiovascular complications occur at an earlier age in persons with diabetes and may result in premature death.
• b) People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to suffer strokes. Once they've had a stroke, they are two to four times as likely to have a recurrence.
• c) deaths from heart disease in women with diabetes have increased 23% over the past 30 years, compared to a 27% decrease in women without the condition.
• d) deaths from heart disease in men with diabetes have decreased by only 13%, compared to a 36% decrease in men without the disorder.

One of the steps that people can take to lower their risk of heart disease and stroke is to learn the diabetes "ABCs:"

• A = A1C, or hemoglobin A1c test, which measures average blood glucose over the past 3 months
• B = Blood pressure. Keep a close check.
• C = Cholesterol. Reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglyceride levels and raise the level of HDL "good" cholesterol

Target ranges are as follows:

• A) A1C < 7% . Check at least twice a year.
• B) Blood Pressure < 130/80 mmHg. Check at every doctor's visit.
• C) Cholesterol-LDL < 100 mg/dl. Check at least once a year

Inflammation - the body's defensive reaction to harmful stimuli - is a major factor in heart disease and can include a complex internal process in response to a harmful condition like high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

In the case of diabetes, the harmful stimuli are thought to elevated levels of insulin - a classic symptom of Insulin Resistance.

If neglected over the years, inflammation can lead to serious damage to the arteries. The medical profession is still studying and evaluating the role of inflammation in a wide variety of disorders that can be inter-connected with type 2 diabetes. These disorders include the cluster of increased risks for cardiovascular disease called Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X) and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a leading cause of menstrual irregularity and female infertility as well as skin conditions, excess facial and body hair and female baldness. To learn more, please click on Inflammation, Insulin Resistance and Diabetes.