Diabetes: Why Cardiovascular Risk Factors So Important?
Whether insulin production is insufficient if there is resistance to its action, glucose accumulates in the blood (called hyperglycemia), progressively damages the blood vessels (arteries and veins) and accelerates the process of atherosclerosis by increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease: angina, myocardial infarction (and their complications and mortality after infarction) and sudden cardiac death. The cardiovascular risk of a diabetic person suffering a cardiovascular event is equal to that of a nondiabetic who has had a heart attack.
It also increases the possibility of cerebrovascular disease or peripheral artery involvement. To enter the brain glucose does not need insulin, and that goes directly from the blood. Maintain constant levels of blood glucose (between 60-110 mg / dl) avoids damage to nervous system.
Diabetes can damage different organs: the eyes, with progressive decrease in vision that can lead to blindness, to the kidneys, increasing loss of kidney function that may result in dialysis; the peripheral nervous system with altered sensitivities lower limbs, which poses a serious risk of ulcers and amputations, the autonomic nervous system, digestive disorders, urinary and sexual function (impotence) and lower extremity arteries with risk of amputation.