Sign in

or Register now

MyDiabetesCentral.com

See all of our health sites at www.HealthCentral.com
Sunday, November 22, 2009
  • Font size
  • Bookmark
  • Save
Shedding Light on the Co-morbidities of DiabetesThe Complications of Having Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes

Long-Term Complications

Long-Term Complications


Type 1 diabetes reduces the normal life span by an average of 5 to 8 years. However, survival rates are improving in all ethnic groups and both genders. Longer survival rates are probably due to improvements in monitoring and tighter control of blood glucose. There are two important approaches to preventing complications from type 1 diabetes:

  • Intensive control of blood glucose and keeping glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels below 7.0. This approach is proving to prevent complications due to vascular (blood vessel) abnormalities and nerve damage (neuropathy) that can cause major damage to organs, including the eyes, kidneys, and heart.
  • Managing risk factors for heart disease. Blood glucose control helps the heart, but it is also very important that people with diabetes control blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other factors associated with heart disease.

Heart Disease

Patients with type 1 diabetes have a 10 times greater risk of heart disease than healthy patients. Heart attacks account for 60% and strokes for 25% of deaths in patients with diabetes. Diabetes affects the heart in many ways:

  • Both type 1 and 2 diabetes accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Diabetes can adversely affect blood lipid levels by lowering HDL ("good cholesterol") and increasing triglycerides. This can lead to coronary artery disease, heart attack, or stroke.
  • In type 1 diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension) usually develops if the kidneys become damaged. High blood pressure is another major cause of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Children with diabetes are also at risk for hypertension.
  • Impaired nerve function (neuropathy) associated with diabetes also causes heart abnormalities. Some experts estimate that the mortality rates from neuropathy-related heart conditions ranges from 15 - 53%.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries in which fatty material is deposited in the vessel wall, resulting in narrowing and eventual impairment of blood flow. Severely restricted blood flow in the arteries to the heart muscle leads to symptoms such as chest pain. Atherosclerosis shows no symptoms until a complication occurs.

Review Date: 07/18/2006
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).
  • Font size
  • Bookmark
  • Was this helpful? Yes
  • Save

Ask a Question

Get answers from our experts and community members.

View all questions (2359) >
Free Newsletter
Get weekly updates, news alerts and more on Diabetes and related health conditions.