The Link Between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Diabetes can be a deadly disease with many complications thatmay lead to cardiovascular disease (the leading cause of death among diabetic patients). Diabetes usually leads to a higher incidence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity, which can all increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Patients with diabetes tend to have altered lipid profiles, which also differs with the type of diabetes (type 1 or 2). These cholesterol abnormalities increase the cardiovascular disease risk in patients with diabetes more so than in nondiabetes patients with similar cholesterol profiles. Diabetes patients have higher production of thromboxane, which causes potent vasoconstriction. This vasoconstriction is blocked by aspirin, which slows or halts the development and/or progression of cardiovascular disease. It is important to closelymonitor and treat patients with diabetes to prevent cardiovascular disease. Two methods for decreasing cardiovascular disease rates in those with diabetes, cholesterol management and aspirin therapy, are discussed.