Cardiovascular Effects of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can have devastating effects on the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. In fact the American Diabetes Association reports that two out of three people with Type 2 diabetes die from cardiovascular-related causes.

Significance

According to GeneticHealth.com, adults with Type 2 diabetes develop cardiovascular disease and stroke two to four times more often than adults without diabetes.

Features

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body's cells become unresponsive to insulin, resulting in excess glucose or blood sugar being present in the blood stream. This excess sugar often binds to proteins found in the vessels that make up the cardiovascular system.

Effects

When sugar binds to proteins, it causes the walls of arteries and veins to harden, contributing to heart attacks and stroke. In addition, many people with Type 2 diabetes have metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by high cholesterol and blood pressure, which can also contribute to cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Prevention

Keeping blood sugar levels under control through a combination of diet and exercise and other treatments, such as insulin or oral medication, greatly improves patients' chances of maintaining cardiovascular health despite diabetes.

Warning

Type 2 diabetics who experience chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, shooting pain down the arms, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, sudden confusion, double vision or severe headaches should seek immediate attention, as these are possible signs of heart attack or stroke.

References

• Mayo Clinic
• Genetic Health
• ADA on Diabetes and the Cardiovascular System

Resources

• American Diabetes Association