how does chronic hyperglycemia cause heart disease?
i get that low insulin = too much blood glucose, but how do you get from blood glucose to heart disease (and, if you wish, the other complications of diabetes?)
Diabetes - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
It is not low insulin - too much blood glucose unless you are unable to produce insulin at all. A type II diabetic produces too much insulin and the cells become resistant - not taking in the glucose, and leaving it in the blood stream. Part of this too much insulin (very complex bio-mechanics, hard to simplify) makes cholesterol and proteins "gluey", allowing them to attach and harden on artery walls.
2 :
Having diabetes or pre-diabetes puts you at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. You can lower your risk by keeping your blood glucose (also called blood sugar), blood pressure, and blood cholesterol close to the recommended target numbers—the levels suggested by diabetes experts for good health. (For more information about target numbers for people with diabetes, see "How will I know whether I have heart disease?".) Reaching your targets also can help prevent narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels in your legs, a condition called peripheral arterial disease. You can reach your targets by choosing foods wisely being physically active taking medications if needed If you have already had a heart attack or a stroke, taking care of yourself can help prevent future health problems. [Top] What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism—the way our bodies use digested food for energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the body’s main source of fuel. After digestion, glucose enters the bloodstream. Then glucose goes to cells throughout the body where it is used for energy. However, a hormone called insulin must be present to allow glucose to enter the cells. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach. In people who do not have diabetes, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into the cells. However, diabetes develops when the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the cells in the muscles, liver, and fat do not use insulin properly, or both. As a result, the amount of glucose in the blood increases while the cells are starved of energy. Over time, high blood glucose levels damage nerves and blood vessels, leading to complications such as heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death among people with diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes can eventually lead to other health problems as well, such as vision loss, kidney failure, and amputations. Diabetes can lead to heart and blood vessel disease. [Top] What is pre-diabetes? Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Pre-diabetes is also called impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. Many people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. In addition, they are at risk for heart disease and stroke. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity, people with pre-diabetes can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes and lower their risk of heart disease and stroke. [Top] What is the connection between diabetes, heart disease, and stroke? If you have diabetes, you are at least twice as likely as someone who does not have diabetes to have heart disease or a stroke. People with diabetes also tend to develop heart disease or have strokes at an earlier age than other people. If you are middle-aged and have type 2 diabetes, some studies suggest that your chance of having a heart attack is as high as someone without diabetes who has already had one heart attack. Women who have not gone through menopause usually have less risk of heart disease than men of the same age. But women of all ages with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease because diabetes cancels out the protective effects of being a woman in her child-bearing years. People with diabetes who have already had one heart attack run an even greater risk of having a second one. In addition, heart attacks in people with diabetes are more serious and more likely to result in death. High blood glucose levels over time can lead to increased deposits of fatty materials on the insides of the blood vessel walls. These deposits may affect blood flow, increasing the chance of clogging and hardening of blood vessels (atherosclerosis). [Top] What are the risk factors for heart disease and stroke in people with diabetes? Diabetes itself is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Also, many people with diabetes have other conditions that increase their chance of developing heart disease and stroke. These conditions are called risk factors. One risk factor for heart disease and stroke is having a family history of heart disease. If one or more members of your family had a heart attack at an early age (before age 55 for men or 65 for women), you may be at increased risk. You can’t change whether heart disease runs in your family, but you can take steps to control the other risk factors for heart disease listed here: Having central obesity. Central obesity means carrying extra weight around the waist, as opposed to the hips. A waist measurement of more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women means you have central obesity. Your risk of heart disease is higher because abdominal fat can increase the production of LDL (bad) cholesterol, the type of blood fat that can be deposited on the inside of blood vessel walls. Having abnormal blood fat (cholesterol) levels. – LDL cholesterol can build up inside your blood vessels, leading to narrowing and hardening of your arteries—the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Arteries can then become blocked. Therefore, high levels of LDL cholesterol raise your risk of getting heart disease. – Triglycerides are another type of blood fat that can raise your risk of heart disease when the levels are high. – HDL (good) cholesterol removes deposits from inside your blood vessels and takes them to the liver for removal. Low levels of HDL cholesterol increase your risk for heart disease. Having high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, your heart must work harder to pump blood. High blood pressure can strain the heart, damage blood vessels, and increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, eye problems, and kidney problems. Smoking. Smoking doubles your risk of getting heart disease. Stopping smoking is especially important for people with diabetes because both smoking and diabetes narrow blood vessels. Smoking also increases the risk of other long-term complications, such as eye problems. In addition, smoking can damage the blood vessels in your legs and increase the risk of amputation. [Top] What is metabolic syndrome and how is it linked to heart disease? Metabolic syndrome is a grouping of traits and medical conditions that puts people at risk for both heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It is defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program as having any three of the following five traits and medical conditions: Traits and Medical Conditions Definition Elevated waist circumference Waist measurement of 40 inches or more in men 35 inches or more in women Elevated levels of triglycerides 150 mg/dL or higher or Taking medication for elevated triglyceride levels Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol Below 40 mg/dL in men Below 50 mg/dL in women or Taking medication for low HDL cholesterol levels Elevated blood pressure levels 130 mm Hg or higher for systolic blood pressure or 85 mm Hg or higher for diastolic blood pressure or Taking medication for elevated blood pressure levels Elevated fasting blood glucose levels 100 mg/dL or higher or Taking medication for elevated blood glucose levels
Read more discussions :
