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Heart Attack Raises Diabetes Risk
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August 28, 2007 (Insidermedicine) People who have had a heart attack are four times more likely to develop diabetes and are at much higher risk of developing pre-diabetes than those without a heart attack, according to research published in The Lancet.
This is what we already know about heart disease and type 2 diabetes:
- Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin that is produced. It usually develops in adulthood, although increasing numbers of children in high-risk populations are being diagnosed
- Diabetes is a major risk factor for blindness, heart disease, kidney problems, nerve damage, and erectile dysfunction
- People with rising levels of glucose in the blood - or impaired fasting glucose ñ are considered to have "pre-diabetes" and are at risk for developing diabetes and its complications over time
In the present study, more than 8,000 patients who had recently had a heart attack and who were free of diabetes were studied for an average of three years. Researchers found that those with heart attack were four times more likely to develop diabetes and up to 15 times more likely to develop impaired fasting glucose than people without a history of heart attack. Risk factors included older age, high blood pressure, and use of heart medications.
Other factors that increased the risk of developing diabetes following a heart attack included higher body weight, smoking, lower exercise tolerance, a diet low in vegetables, fruit, fish, and olive oil, and excess wine consumption.
If you are over 40 or overweight, have a family history of diabetes, have high blood pressure or cholesterol, you should be carefully monitored by your doctor to prevent developing diabetes. You can also take steps to lower your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, making healthy food choices, and exercising regularly.
For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.
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