Expert: Diabetes is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease

Chandigarh, May 3, 2016: According to the International Diabetes Federation, India is home to over 65.1 million diabetics, and this number is set to touch 100 million in less than two decades. A genetic predisposition, faulty diets and a sedentary lifestyle are some of the leading reasons for its increasing incidence. While diabetes is often asymptomatic and goes undiagnosed, its impact on the overall health and well-being of an individual cannot be ignored, says Dr. Praveer Agarwal, Director & Interventional Cardiologist at Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi.
Dr Praveer Agarwal says, “Heart ailments are the leading cause of death among people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Heart disease and diabetes have a strong connect, with obesity at the base. Fat deposition around the waist, a commonly found occurrence in the Indian population, leads to poor glucose control and increases the risks of atherosclerosis-- a disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of fatty material on their inner walls. In patients who are severe diabetics, a bypass surgery is preferred over opening the artery through an angioplasty. The reason being that diabetic patients have extensive and diffuse blockages that are best treated by bypassing those areas altogether.”
Diabetes is a direct risk factor for life-threatening ailments like heart disease and stroke. In fact, two out of three people with diabetes die from one of the two diseases. Yet, over 50% of the diabetes cases in India often go undiagnosed and are treated only at later stages.
Lifestyle modifications are a must for managing diabetes. Quitting smoking, limiting fat intake and consumption of alcoholic drinks, increased physical activity such as brisk walking, jogging or aerobics class can go a long way in reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Relaxation techniques can also play a great role in the prevention of these.