This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Diabetes Confers Earlier Heart Risk
Added Risk for Heart Attacks and Stroke Equivalent to Aging 15 Years
Reviewed by
Louise Chang, MD
June 29, 2006 -- Diabetes is a big risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and now new research helps quantify that risk.
A Canadian study found that, in general, people with diabetes have a risk for heart disease (such as heart attack), stroke, and death from any cause similar to someone more than a decade older but without the disease.
Those with diabetes tended to be 15 years younger than people without diabetes when they developed risk factors putting them at high risk for heart attacks and strokes.
For men with diabetes, the average age for the transition from moderate to high risk was 48. For women it was 54.
These findings are reported in the July 1 issue of the journal The Lancet.
As with people without diabetes, age was still a very important predictor of cardiovascular risk for those with diabetes. Those 40 and older tended to have a much greater risk than younger people with the disease.
"A 70-year-old with diabetes is generally going to have a higher risk than someone who is 40. And under age 40, on average, people were not at high risk," says Gillian L. Booth, MD, one of the researchers involved in the study.
Heart Attack, Stroke Risk High
Diabetes patients may also have additional risk factors for heart disease and stroke, such as obesity, high blood pressure, or abnormal cholesterol levels. As a result, more than 65% of people with diabetes end up dying from heart disease and strokes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Because this risk is so great, aggressive treatment to lower the risk has become a mainstay of diabetes therapy in recent years.
In an effort to better understand the importance of age in heart and stroke risk among people with diabetes, Booth and colleagues from Toronto's Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) conducted a population-based study looking at 379,000 people with diabetes and 9 million people without the disease. All were living in Ontario, Canada.
They used the Ontario Diabetes Database to determine whether or not someone had diabetes, but the researchers were unable to distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Aggressive Treatment Needed?
Type 1 diabetes is much less common, occurring in only 5% to 10% of diabetes cases in the U.S. It often first develops in children and young adults. But the majority of cases are from type 2 diabetes, which is associated with age and being overweight or obese.
The Canadian researchers found that middle-aged and older people with diabetes tended to have a high risk for heart attacks and strokes, while the risk for people under age 40 was less well defined.
Booth says the findings make it clear that most diabetes patients 40 and older would benefit from aggressive treatment to lower blood pressure and normalize blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
"At least in the short term, many people with diabetes who are younger than 40 seem to have a low to moderate absolute risk of cardiovascular disease," she says.
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Is This Normal?
Get the Facts Fast!Answer:
Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia). |
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
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