Diabetes: can we stop the time bomb?

M Fisher

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Miles Fisher, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK;
miles.fisher{at}northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk

Type 2 diabetes is increasing in prevalence and it is estimated that three million individuals in the UK will have the disease by 2010. People with diabetes have a high risk of cardiovascular disease—coronary heart disease is more prevalent, more extensive, and more diffuse. For all cardiovascular syndromes, the mortality is virtually doubled in patients with diabetes. Large clinical trials have provided clear evidence of the reduction in cardiovascular risk that can be achieved by treating hyperglycaemia as well as traditional risk factors, such as hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. The challenge now is for all health care professionals to implement the treatment guidelines.

Keywords: diabetes; cardiovascular disease

Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; ALLHAT, Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial; CAPRIE, Clopidogrel Versus Aspirin in Patients at Risk of Ischaemic Events; CARE, Cholesterol and Recurrent Events; DAIS, Diabetes Atherosclerosis Intervention Study; HOPE, Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation; LIPID, Long term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease; LIPS, Lescol Intervention Prevention Study; UKPDS, UK Prospective Diabetes Study; VA-HIT, Veterans Affairs High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Intervention Trial; 4S, Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Hong, S J, Kim, M H, Ahn, T H, Ahn, Y K, Bae, J H, Shim, W J, Ro, Y M, Lim, D-S (2006). Multiple predictors of coronary restenosis after drug-eluting stent implantation in patients with diabetes. Heart 92: 1119-1124 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Buch, H. N, Barton, D. M, Varughese, G. I, Hodgson, E., Scarpello, J. H. (2004). A one-year retrospective audit of the DIGAMI protocol. British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease 4: 396-399 [Abstract]  
• Feher, M D (2004). Diabetes: preventing coronary heart disease in a high risk group. Heart 90: iv18-iv21 [Abstract] [Full Text]