Diabetes is a condition that affects how insulin is produced and used
in the body. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar; a person with
diabetes either does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use it
properly. Over time, this condition can accelerate hardening and narrowing
(atherosclerosis) of the coronary arteries, resulting
in poor blood flow to the heart muscle.
People who have diabetes develop atherosclerosis more frequently and
at a younger age than those not affected by the disease. Diabetes may double
the risk of death from
coronary artery disease (CAD). People with diabetes
are more likely to:
- Have
high blood pressure.
- Have high
triglyceride levels.
- Have low levels of
"good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL).
- Have a
thicker left ventricle, which can affect how well the heart
pumps.
- Be overweight.
Young people with insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes have an
increased risk of CAD and
heart attack.
