Question

1. How do Diabetes mellitus leads to stroke? State its prevention?

2. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease: State its Genetic and Epigenetic Links

3. Sheds light on how to manage diabetes and also prevent heart attack and stroke by giving us the guideline on lifestyle management to reduce their risk

Answer 1

1. How do Diabetes mellitus leads to stroke? State its prevention?

Diabetes is a well-established risk factor for stroke. Diabetes affects the body’s ability to create insulin or use it properly. Since insulin plays an important role in pulling glucose into cells from the bloodstream, people with diabetes are often left with too much sugar in their blood. Over time, this excess sugar can contribute to the build-up of clots or fat deposits inside vessels that supply blood to the neck and brain. This process is known as atherosclerosis.

If these deposits grow, they can cause a narrowing of the blood vessel wall or even a complete blockage. When blood flow to your brain stops for any reason, a stroke occurs.

Prevention

· Maintain a heart-healthy diet

· Quit smoking

· Maintain a healthy weight

· Maintain good cholesterol levels.

· Exercise every day

· Limit alcohol

· Learn to manage stress

· Treat high blood pressure.

· Talk to your health care provider

2. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease: State its Genetic and Epigenetic Links

Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a twofold increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and CVD is the principal cause of death in type 2 diabetes patients.

Type 2 Diabetes results from a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors.

Type 2 diabetes does not have a clear pattern of inheritance, although many affected individuals have at least one close family member, such as a parent or sibling, with the disease. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases with the number of affected family members. The increased risk is likely due in part to shared genetic factors, but it is also related to lifestyle influences (such as eating and exercise habits) that are shared by members of a family.

The majority of genetic variations associated with type 2 diabetes are thought to act by changing the amount, timing, and location of gene activity (expression). These changes in expression affect genes involved in many aspects of type 2 diabetes, including the development and function of beta cells in the pancreas, the release and processing of insulin, and cells' sensitivity to the effects of insulin.

Genetic variations likely act together with health and lifestyle factors to influence an individual's overall risk of type 2 diabetes. All of these factors are related, directly or indirectly, to the body's ability to produce and respond to insulin. Health conditions that predispose to the disease include overweight or obesity, insulin resistance, prediabetes (higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that do not reach the cutoff for diabetes), and a form of diabetes called gestational diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Lifestyle factors including smoking, a poor diet, and physical inactivity also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

3. Sheds light on how to manage diabetes and also prevent heart attack and stroke by giving us the guideline on lifestyle management to reduce their risk

Taking care of diabetes is very important to help take care of our heart. The risk of heart attack and stroke can be controlled by the following steps.

· Manage diabetes ABCs

Knowing diabetes ABCs will help us to manage blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

A ---- A1C test.

The A1C test shows average blood glucose level over the past 3 months. The higher A1C number indicates the higher blood glucose levels during the past 3 months. High levels of blood glucose can harm heart, blood vessels, kidneys, feet, and eyes.

B ----- Blood pressure.

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the wall of blood vessels. If blood pressure gets too high, it makes the heart work too hard.

C ----- Cholesterol.

There are two kinds of cholesterol in the blood: LDL and HDL. LDL or “bad” cholesterol can build up and clog blood vessels. Too much bad cholesterol can cause a heart attack or stroke. HDL or “good” cholesterol helps us to remove the “bad” cholesterol from the blood vessels.

S ----- Stop smoking.

· Develop or maintain healthy lifestyle habits

Developing or maintaining healthy lifestyle habits can help us to manage diabetes and prevent heart disease.

· Follow healthy eating plan.

· Make physical activity

· Maintain a healthy weight

· Get enough sleep.

· Learn to manage stress

· Take medicine to protect the heart