Diabetes May Affect Women's Heart Rhythm

Study: Women With Diabetes May Be 26% More Likely Than Other Women to Develop Atrial Fibrillation

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News

Sept. 28, 2009 -- Women with diabetes may be 26% more likely than other women to develop a heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation.

Researchers report that news in the October edition of Diabetes Care.

Data came from more than 34,000 adults who got their health care through Kaiser Permanente Northwest. The group included 17,000 diabetes patients.

When the study started, atrial fibrillation was more common in diabetes patients than in people without diabetes, affecting 3.6% of the diabetes patients, compared to 2.5% of those without diabetes.

The researchers then tracked everyone else -- all participants who didn't already have atrial fibrillation -- for seven years.

During that time, people with diabetes were more likely than people without diabetes to develop atrial fibrillation. That risk was higher for women than for men.

Regardless of factors including age, height, weight, blood pressure, previous history of heart disease, cholesterol levels, and hemoglobin A1c (which is used to estimate blood sugar control in recent months), women with diabetes were 26% more likely than other women to develop atrial fibrillation.

But diabetes didn't stand out as an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation in men. That is, atrial fibrillation was more common in men with diabetes than in men without diabetes, but that gap vanished when the researchers controlled for other risk factors.

The reasons for the gender gap in the results aren't clear from this study.

"Diabetes has long been recognized as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation," write the researchers, who included Gregory Nichols, PhD, of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore.

Nichols and colleagues say the gender gap in their findings was unexpected and needs further study.

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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.

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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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