Vascular disease can affect all blood vessels in the body. Blocked arteries in the brain can lead to a TIA (transient ischemic attack) or stroke. Blocked arteries in the heart can lead to chest pain (e.g., angina) or a heart attack. Blocked arteries in the legs can cause problems with circulation and walking. Erectile problems also can be due to blocked arteries.
Vascular disease
Vascular disease is two to four times more common in people with Diabetes. It is caused by stiffening and clogging of arteries (atherosclerosis). In Diabetes, when the blood glucose is chronically high, excessive amounts of glucose attach to the inner walls of the blood vessels, decreasing their elasticity. Elevated blood glucose also cause atherosclerosis by promoting plaque formation. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and smoking further increase this risk. Even mildly increased blood glucose (as in Prediabetes) increases heart disease risk.
Often heart disease is silent in people with Diabetes. In other words, there are no symptoms sometimes even during a heart attack.
Heart disease and stroke
Studies show that a person with Diabetes has the same chance of having a heart attack or stroke as someone has already had a heart attack or a stroke. Most people with Diabetes are unaware of their greatly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This means people with Diabetes should not smoke, and need to be very diligent in minimizing the risks for cardiovascular disease (controlling their blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, blood pressure, and taking aspirin), even more so than the general population.
Medicines to lower lipids
Reproduced from “Diabetes DeMystified” by Umesh Masharani, McGraw-Hill 2007
Medicines for the treatment of high blood pressure
Reproduced from “Diabetes DeMystified” by Umesh Masharani, McGraw-Hill 2007
Individuals with Diabetes are at higher risk for heart disease and stroke.