Diabetic people likely to have heart disease at early age: Doctor

Mahipal (name changed), a 40-year-old was having a mild irritation and burning in his stomach. At the hospital, doctors told him that he had suffered a major heart attack. Angiography revealed that three of his arteries had major blockage for which he had to undergo bypass surgery. His family members could not understand why Mahipal had suffered a heart attack at a young age. Although they were aware that he had diabetes but were clueless about the correlation between heart disease and diabetes. 

As per doctors, diabetes is not just about high blood sugar levels. “People with diabetes tend to develop heart disease at a younger age than people without diabetes. In adults, with diabetes, the most common causes of death are heart disease and stroke. Adults with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease or stroke as people without diabetes,” Dr Amit Gupta, a senior interventional cardiologist at Shalby Hospital said. “ 

Around 25 percent people with diabetes have Diabetic Heart Disease (DHD). It may include diabetic cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease (CHD) or heart failure. Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a disease that damages the structure and function of the heart. This disease can lead to heart failure and arrhythmias, even in people who have diabetes but don’t have CHD,” added Dr Gupta.

India is the diabetic capital of the world and diabetes is the fastest growing disease as 7.2 crore cases recorded in 2017 and the figure is expected to nearly double by 2025. As per doctors, people who have type-1 or type-2 diabetes can develop DHD. The risk increases with the higher blood sugar level. “Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s blood glucose (sugar) level is too high. Over time, high blood glucose from diabetes can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control heart and blood vessels,” said Dr Gupta.

Lifestyle changes and medicines can prevent the risk. Physical activity helps to control blood sugar level and reduce stress. Diabetics need to follow a healthy diet, rich in vegetables, whole grains, fruits and fat-free milk products. Consumption of simple carbohydrates and trans-fat foods should be avoided.

Physical Activity

Physical activity helps to control blood sugar level and reduce stress. Diabetics need to follow a healthy diet, rich in vegetables, whole grains, fruits and fat-free milk products. Consumption of simple carbohydrates and trans-fat foods should be avoided.