Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most frequent consequence of diseases in diabetics. The Diabetes draws an altered metabolic process by itself, which can lead to that narrow the coronary arteries as a result of deposits in the course of the disease. Because of the increased blood glucose levels, the risk of vasoconstriction in diabetic patients is generally four to six times higher than in non-diabetics. These side effects of the disease are responsible for many heart attacks.
Is particularly high among diabetics, the risk of coronary heart disease. This is due to the fact that here is a arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries colloquially called) is much faster and more intensively developed. The consequence of a poorly controlled metabolism is often an overactive clotting. This means that blood platelets sticky and tend to form clumps more quickly. Represent a serious hazard in addition to the damaged nervous system of diabetic patients. Because of nerve damage, the pain that induces a reduced perfusion of the heart, not perceived. It may be that a heart attack occurs without any warning pain, not being noticed and therefore goes untreated.
Symptoms of coronary heart disease
The symptoms of coronary heart disease are numerous technical. They are regarded as warning signs that something is wrong and a doctor should be consulted. Primary symptoms are pain in the chest and shortness of breath or palpitations or irregular heartbeats. This unusual referred pain in the arms should be, in the jaw or back, tiredness or nausea, heartburn, and excessive sweating will be given more consideration.
Other cardiac complications
But not only with coronary heart disease have to reckon with diabetes. Other complications around the heart are just as widespread. Heart failure occurs, for example also increasingly on people with diabetes. This is due to a thickening, in turn, a stiffening of the walls of the smallest blood vessels and capillaries causes. Because of this failure, the pumping of the heart is significantly reduced. For this reason, diabetics should avoid especially smoking.
Diabetic neuropathy in diabetic patients is often pioneer of a diabetic foot ulcers. Nerve damage can also occur in the nerves that control the heart rate. This is referred to as: cardiac autonomic neuropathy. For the limitation of our heartbeat is the parasympathetic nervous system responsible. If this fails, predominates in the conduct of our heartbeat of the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the performance. A consistent and not necessary, increased heart rate is the consequence, which in turn causes Frequenzstarre. The slowdown associated with the expiration of the pulse takes place here and not the heart is overwhelmed due to lack of recovery phases.
Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases
An important component of diabetes treatment is therefore mainly the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. It begins with the patient knows about his diabetes, a healthy, balanced diet and enough exercise movement. In addition, the observation of his blood lipid levels is essential. A lipid metabolism disorder is considered a major cardiovascular risk factor. Also, the intake of bad cholesterol (and lipo-protein) should be avoided, since this is deposited on the walls of blood vessels and leads to narrowing.
The diabetes guideline of the German Diabetes Society, moreover, show that to be achieved as the main prevention is a must normal glycemic control. This assumes that the HbA1c did not – value in diabetic patients is higher than 7%. The A1C test indicates the long-term blood sugar levels. The doctor can because of this value, determined regardless of the current measurement, the average blood sugar levels of the last two to three months. The UK prospective diabetes study (UKPDS) has shown that a reduction was achieved by 16% incidence of heart attacks by lowering of HbA1c from 7.9 to 7.0%.
Since 2007 in Germany is going a combined therapy of the drug pioglitazone with insulin. First interim analysis was recently published. These indicate that the combination in the future is both effective and safe.
