Published on Sep 11, 2023 | 12:16 PM
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When it comes to chronic conditions that lead to heart failure, most people assume that it has to do with high blood pressure or hypertension. While those and high cholesterol do lead to the most heart disease cases, National Diabetes Heart Connection Day was established to spread awareness about how diabetes plays a role in developing heart disease. Like other chronic conditions, type 2 diabetes puts an individual at risk two times more of developing heart disease. (1
When it comes to how diabetes can affect your heart, or other parts of your body like the eyes, genitals, nerves, and more, it's all about the blood vessels. (2) When exposed to regularly high blood sugar levels, termed hyperglycemia, blood vessels are prone to react in a number of ways:
Especially in the case of type 2 diabetes, these vascular complications are why individuals with diabetes are at increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and other cardiovascular problems.
For those that develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease comes gradually through lifestyle and regular habits. With high blood sugar gradually damaging blood vessels around the heart and body, a person’s diet is the primary route toward developing or avoiding diabetes-related heart diseases. A diet that is high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and processed foods while low in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is an example of how type 2 diabetes develops. Additionally, other factors that can play a role include:
Diabetic cardiomyopathy is the specific type of heart failure commonly associated with diabetes. It is a condition characterized by changes in the structure and function of the heart, including thickening of the heart muscle and impaired contractility, which can lead to heart failure. This condition is distinct from other types of heart failure and is primarily driven by the effects of diabetes on the heart, particularly in individuals with poor blood sugar control. (3)
Many professionals base diabetic cardiomyopathy on three major stages: early, middle, and late if there is an absence of hypertension and coronary atherosclerosis. (4) As discussed in a 2013 study, these stages appear as:
When it comes to specifically testing heart health for those with diabetes, there are three non-invasive tests and two invasive tests. (5) A non-invasive test is a diagnostic procedure that does not require penetration of the body or the use of instruments that enter the body, typically relying on external imaging or measurements. In contrast, an invasive test involves the insertion of medical instruments, such as catheters or endoscopes, into the body to directly access and evaluate internal structures or organs. For diabetes-related heart diseases, these tests include:
As discussed in an earlier CallonDoc article titled “The CallonDoc Guide to Type 2 Diabetes,” the primary ways to avoid type 2 diabetes can be condensed down to a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking. Preventing diabetes-related heart diseases is similar in the habits and actions you can take, with examples including:
CallonDoc tests individuals with type 2 diabetes, making life easier for many Americans across the 50 states. While we can’t treat heart disease, we do work to spread awareness about how untreated diabetes can lead to heart disease as well as provide health-related education to keep you and your loved ones informed on how to live a healthy life. Share this blog, check out our other blogs for more wellness information, and get testing or treatment online with Call-On-Doc!
English graduate and Call-On-Doc’s medical resource guide, Wayne C. Hahne is an experienced and passionate medical education content expert. Through diligent research, provider interviews and utilizing the industry's leading resources for wellness information, it is Mr. Hahne’s personal mission to educate the general public on medical conditions with in-depth and easy-to-understand written guides.
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