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Poor blood sugar management may put diabetics at higher heart attack risk

Category: Diabetes

Individuals who have received blood tests indicating poorly controlled glucose levels may be significantly more likely to die from a heart attack, according to a new study out of the University of Gothenburg.

The researchers said the findings are significant because so many people who have diabetes experience heart attacks. The results of the study may help explain why these events can be so dangerous in diabetics.

Petur Petursson, who led the investigation, said that the findings underscore the importance of managing the blood sugar levels of diabetics. Any fluctuations could lead to potentially serious cardiovascular complications.

"Medical personnel can pretty much assume that coronary artery disease patients will have some kind of blood sugar disorder, so there must be established strategies for managing these disorders at every heart clinic in the country," Petursson said.

Heart disease is much more common among diabetics than it is in the general population. Managing blood sugar levels may be one key to minimizing a diabetic's chances of dying in the event of a heart attack.