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Control of Glucose Levels Is Vital for Diabetics
Brief Description:
According to new research, people with diabetes need to pay strict attention to their glucose levels in order to avoid some serious complications.
Transcript:
Thornton: A study funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases indicated that people with diabetes need to pay strict attention to their glucose levels in order to avoid some serious complications. Doctor David Nathan — Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Center — co-chaired the study.
Nathan: Both 'Type One' and 'Type Two' diabetic patients are at high risk for heart disease. And, if you compare either a 'Type One' patient or a 'Type Two' patient with somebody of similar age who doesn't have diabetes, the person with diabetes almost always has a higher risk of heart disease. It turns out that age is a major determinant of heart disease — so people with 'Type Two' diabetes, who are almost always older, have generally a higher risk than the younger, 'Type One' diabetic patient. In addition, people with 'Type Two' diabetes are much more likely to be overweight or obese, to have high cholesterol levels, and to have hypertension. And, all of those factors put the 'Type Two' diabetic patient at much-greater risk of heart disease.
Thornton: Research has also shown patients classified as "pre-diabetic" need to control their glucose levels to prevent serious complications in the future. This is Matt Thornton, at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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| Date: 06/26/2005 |
Reporter: Matt Thornton
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Sound Bite:
Dr. David Nathan |
Topic:
Diabetes |
| Institute(s): NIDDK
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