The Surprising Link Between Diabetes and Heart Disease

By Lisa Collier Cool Nov 15, 2013 15 Recommend

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by Lisa Collier Cool

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Women under 60 often think they dont have to worry about heart disease, but if they have diabetes, their risk quadruplessoaring to the same level of that a

man without the blood sugar diseaseaccording to a new study published in Diabetes Care. The new study, the first to explore gender differences in heart disease risk in young and middle-aged type 2 diabetics, adds to extensive scientific evidence showing a powerful link between high blood sugar and increased risk for heart disease, the leading killer of Americans. The research included more than 10,000 participants in the GeneStar Research Program, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III.

Heart Attacks and Strokes Rank as the Top Dangers of Diabetes

Patients are often shocked to learn that if they have diabetes, their risk for a heart attack is as high as that of a person who has alread y had one, reports Amy Doneen. ARNP, medical director of the Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention Center in Spokane, Washington. More startling facts from the National Diabetes Education Program: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of early death in diabetics. Approximately 65 percent of diabetics die from heart disease or stroke not the disease itself. Adults with diabetes are at up to four times higher risk for heart disease or a stroke than those without the blood sugar disorder. Diabetics who smoke have double the risk for CVD. Type 2 diabetes also magnifies risk for high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and obesity, all of which are linked to CVD. Easy Tips for a Healthier Heart

Whats the Link Between Diabetes and Heart Disease?

Although most people think of diabetes as a blood sugar problem, its actually a vascular disease, says Doneen. During the 20 to 30 years that it takes for

someone to progress from insulin resistance (the root cause of type 2 diabetes) to diabetes, their blood vessels are being beaten up and becoming increasingly inflamed to the point that theres as much damage as if theyd already had a heart attack. In addition, people with diabetes are very likely to have other disorders that boost heart attack and stroke risk, adds Doneen. For example, many diabetics have metabolic syndrome, a dangerous gang of cardiometabolic villains that double risk for heart attacks and quintuple it for diabetes, as Ive explained in a recent post. To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you must have at least 3 of the following disorders: a large waistline (above 40 inches for a man and above 35 inches for a women), high triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Researchers at UC Davis have also discovered a biological link between diabetes and heart disease. In a series of animal experiments, the scientists identified a previously unknown biological pathway that is activated when blood sugar levels become abnormally high, causing irregular heartbeats. This type of cardiac arrhythmia is associated with heart failure and sudden cardiac death. The findings may help explain why diabetes is a major, independent risk factor for CVD. Top 10 Diabetes Superfoods

How Can Diabetics Reduce Heart Risk?

Several clinical trials show that keeping blood sugar levels under optimal control can dramatically reduce heart risk, the National Diabetes Education Program reports. Here are some of the benefits uncovered in these studies: Intensive glucose control cuts risk for heart attack, stroke, or death from heartrelated causes by 57 percent.

 Controlling high blood pressure reduced risk for CVD in diabetics by up to 50 percent. For every 10 mm hG drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number), risk for any diabetic complication fell by 12 percent. Improved control of cholesterol and triglycerides lowered risk for CVD complications by up to 50 percent. Diabetics can also reduce their risk of CVD by avoiding smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke, according to Doneen. Cigarettes and diabetes are a deadly combination, she adds.