GENERAL CARDIOLOGY
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects your ability to make or respond properly to the hormone insulin. Insulin converts sugar and starches into energy. If you have diabetes, your body cannot pull the proper amounts of sugar from the bloodstream and convert it to energy. As a result, high levels of glucose (sugar) may accumulate in your blood causing problems that can include heart and blood vessel diseases.
The most common form of diabetes is Type II diabetes. It often occurs in adults during middle age and, in a mild form, may go undetected for many years. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious medical conditions, including heart and blood vessel diseases. Even when blood glucose levels are under control you are still at greater risk for heart attack and stroke because diabetes also affects cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and increases your risk of high blood pressure. Obesity and physical inactivity are two main risk factors for Type II diabetes.
If you suffer from Type II diabetes, it is very important that you have regular medical checkups to help control it. Your physician can help you develop a plan involving diet, exercise, weight loss and sometime medications to reduce your risk.
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