Diabetes Linked to Heart Problems

Wed, 08 Jun 2011
Recent research has discovered that those with type 2 diabetes are likely to develop heart problems even during adolescence.

Previous research in to adults with Type 2 diabetes has shown that the ability of diabetics' heart and blood vessels to adapt to exercise can be adversely affected.

The new research highlights that changes in heart function can start to occur very soon after Type 2 diabetes happens.

A team of researchers analysed teenagers aged between 12 and 20.

They studied the ways in which the heart and blood vessels of thirteen teenagers with Type 2 diabetes adapted to exercise, in contrast to 27 overweight or obese non-diabetics and 19 non-diabetic and non-obese participants.

All participants had to perform an exercise test on a stationary bicycle, with the heart imageed on a machine.

The heart images highlighted that the hearts of none of the participants expanded and filled up with blood between heartbeats.

This study did not deternine why, with diabetes, the heart becomes stiffer, with its ability to stretch and expand becoming limited.

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