Features of the course of acute cerebral stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Acute stroke is a major public health problem in both developing and developed countries and has detrimental effects on the individual, family, and societal levels. Ischemic stroke is a disease with significant prevalence, high disability, high mortality, and high recurrence rate. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most serious and most common chronic diseases today, causing life-threatening complications that lead to disability. Among these complications, one of the most common is acute stroke. People with diabetes are at a 1.5–2 times higher risk of acute ischemic stroke compared to people without this disease. Hyperglycemia doubles the risk of recurrent stroke and increases the risk of death or disability after ischemic stroke. There are several possible mechanisms by which diabetes leads to acute stroke, including cardiac embolism (atrial fibrillation), endothelial dysfunction, increased arterial stiffness at an early age, systemic inflammation and thickening of the capillary basement membrane. Controlling glucose levels through lifestyle changes or medications and modifying other associated risk factors (such as hypertension and dyslipidemia) are critical steps to the effective stroke prevention.