Diabetes and heart problems: hand in hand

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
Oct 30th 2007 3:00PM

It's amazing to hear that diabetes is the fifth-leading killer of Americans, isn't it? It's just not a condition I hear of that often in relation to early death -- cancer, heart disease and strokes top the list. But therein lies the problem, according to experts -- two-thirds of those with type I or type II diabetes will actually pass away from a heart attack or stroke.

Those two causes of death are the leading causes of death among all diabetics in the U.S., and there are more 'living' problems like limb removal or blindness that can result from poor condition control.

In other words, the management of diabetes is of paramount importance. Included are living with the disease without letting it rule you. The top two things that anyone should make integral to their lifestyle -- excellent nutrition and exercise -- are the most important. What do you think?

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Allie Beatty 10-30-2007 @ 5:15PM

Hey Brian,

Allie here ;) Former blogger on TheDiabetesBlog.com....

Ii think you're 100% dead-on accurate! (No pun intended)..

Your statistics are true. In fact 50% of people with Type 1 diabetes will die of a heart attack (or stroke complication) before the age of 50.

So of those "two-thirds" of ALL people living with diabetes -- it looks like the *insulin-dependent* type are more likely to kick the bucket sooner. How's that for beating the odds?

Woe is me...29 years young and (statistically) "over the hill" ;)

LoveDiabetes,
Allie Beatty

Allie Beatty 10-31-2007 @ 10:07PM

The drugs used to cause lowering of blood sugar (in diabetes), just as the drugs used to cause lowering of blood cholesterol (in people with elevated cholesterol) are what cause the complications and lethal side effects.

Exogenous genetically modified insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents PUSH insulin into cells whereas natural vertebrate insulin (dosed as per Mother Nature) allow the cells to **absorb** sugar -- rather than forcing it into cells, causing damage and complications.

Whereas statins inhibit the natural production of cholesterol in the body and ctatlyze the clearance of LDL from the blood. Unfortunately, contrary to drug marketing -- cholesterol is needed to **protect** and keep the body healthy in several ways.

Cholesterol is important for: preventing illness, the liver and the brain become ill when cholesterol levels are low, cholesterol prevents depression (i.e., dehydration), cholesterol also helps stabilizez mood and mitigate aggressive behavior. If that's not reason enough -- statistics show that people who have commiitedd suicide, or attempted to commit suicide had categorically low levels of cholesterol.

Do you know anybody who is happier now that they are on stains? I'd ask for a show of hands. Furthermore - the combination of diabetes drugs AND a statin compicate the matter even more -- 2 drugs with bountiful side effects and definitive long-term complications with use of these drugs (for chronic illness). What's worse? The diagnosis or the side effects of treatment?

Best,

Allie Beatty
LoveDiabetes.com