CARDIO DIABETOLOGY

Diabetes causes major long-term complications in patients and is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. It doubles the risk of heart ailments in patients with nearly 75% deaths caused by coronary artery disease. Globally, nearly 2.2 million deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases and other complications like renal failure (kidney failure) arising from diabetes. As a result, it becomes imperative to evaluate diabetic patients for CAD to ensure proper medical treatment and care to improve their quality of life.

Classic symptoms of diabetes are sudden weight loss, polyuria (increased urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), and polyphagia (increased hunger). These symptoms may progress rapidly (within weeks or months) in type 1 diabetes patients, while type 2 diabetes patients may develop them slower or may even have negligible symptoms. However, in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients, glycated hemoglobin (non-fasting glucose levels in hemoglobin) is a better indicator for determining risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients. Such patients can benefit from educating themselves about their condition and treatment options available to them. Good, balanced nutrition to achieve normal body weight, regular exercise to maintain blood glucose levels at acceptable rate, and long-term lifestyle modifications like cessation of smoking are recommended to control blood pressure and other associated complication at bay.