Diabetes News
ADA, ACC Emphasize Diabetes-Stroke Link During National Stroke Awareness Month
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 26 (PRNewswire) -- More than 18 million Americans have diabetes and all are at a substantially higher risk of suffering a stroke - one of the most serious complications of diabetes that can result in severe disability and even death. A recent study found that up to 42 percent of the most common form of stroke (ischemic) can be attributed to the effects of diabetes alone or in combination with high blood pressure.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) are teaming up during May, which is National Stroke Awareness Month, to highlight the connection between diabetes and stroke. Statistics show people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to suffer a stroke than people without diabetes. More alarmingly, two out of three people with diabetes actually die from stroke or heart disease. "The link between diabetes and stroke is a critical correlation not always given the attention it deserves," said Brett M. Kissela, MD, assistant professor, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and lead author of the study, published in a recent issue of the journal Diabetes Care. "Research confirms that having diabetes is a serious risk factor for stroke, and more efforts should be devoted to helping people with diabetes understand their risks."
Confirming previous reports, the study found that diabetes increases the incidence of stroke in all patients. Researchers also found ischemic stroke patients with diabetes are younger and more likely to be African American than patients without diabetes. Also in this study, African Americans with diabetes under the age of 55 were about eight times more likely to suffer a stroke than African Americans without diabetes. Caucasians with diabetes under the age of 65 had up to a five-fold increase in stroke compared to those
without diabetes.
People with diabetes should be aware of the symptoms of stroke. Some common warning signs include:
* weakness or numbness on one side of the body
* sudden confusion or trouble understanding
* trouble talking
* dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
* trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
* double vision
* severe headache
"With diabetes on the rise in America, educating people about its serious complications like stroke is becoming more important every day," said John Buse, MD, Chair of the ADA-ACC initiative titled Make the Link! Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke. "Thankfully, people with diabetes can reduce their risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack by effectively managing their disease."
To lower the risk for stroke, people with diabetes should work closely with their health care provider to manage the "ABCs of Diabetes:"
* A: A1C, the test that measures average blood sugar over the past months, should be less than 7, and checked at least twice a year.
* B: Blood pressure should be below 130/80, and measured at every visit.
* C: Cholesterol (LDL or "bad") should be below 100, and checked once a year.
The ABCs can be managed with proper meal planning, physical activity and medications. The closer the ABC numbers are to the target goals, the better the chances of preventing a stroke. Quitting smoking and losing weight if needed will also help.
Make the Link! Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke is a joint national initiative of the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Cardiology aimed at reducing deaths from heart attack and stroke among people with diabetes. To learn more about Make the Link! or to receive related patient and educational materials, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit http://www.diabetes.org/MaketheLink.