Diabetes Patients May Be at a Higher Risk for Strokes

Over the years, various regions have seen an increase in the number of patients with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.  These patients are often at risk for developing other serious health conditions, including heart and blood vessel disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage (nephropathy), eye damage, foot damage, impaired hearing, skin conditions, and even Alzheimer's disease.  As of recently, a direct link has been discovered between those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and the likelihood of encountering either strokes or a heart attack. 

Research has found that diabetic patients, namely those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, are now 2.4 times more likely to encounter a heart attack relative to the general population, 2 times as likely to encounter a stroke, and 2.7 times more likely to develop heart failure.

This finding has made a significant impact in the United Kingdom, as these heart-related health conditions have seen a significant rise in recent years.  This very well could be due to the rise in obesity rates in the region, as a National Health Service report, published in 2013, stated that the United Kingdom had the highest rate of obesity among all of the nations located in western Europe. Some approximations have been made as to how much worse this trend may become over time, with an estimate of over half of the British population becoming obese by the year 2050.  A more recent finding, as discovered by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) showed that over 235,000 citizens are diagnosed with either a heart disease or a stroke in Wales and England every year.  This startling statistic has prompted the British Heart Foundation to call for an increase in research surrounding this fast-progressing problem in order to better the current treatment methods for patients diagnosed with diabetes and heart disease. 

The foundation has proved to be proactive in this effort, as they have joined with Tesco and Diabetes United Kingdom in order to best fight for the this cause.  When asked about the growth in heart-related conditions due to diabetes, Dr. Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation stated, “These estimates are a stark reminder that people living with diabetes are two to three times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke… The tragedy is that often the onset of these conditions can be prevented, while research could lead to new treatments.” Dr. Knapton is optimistic that the newfound partnership with Tesco and Diabetes United Kingdom will yield successful as results, as they are approaching their research with new and inventive techniques.