X-syndrome: Diabetes & heart disease linked

More than 3 million South Africans suffer from type 2 diabetes, which strikes particularly people older than 30. But it never rains, it pours. This common type of diabetes is often part of a Metabolic Syndrome (or X syndrome) that also includes high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease. Problem is, the glucose levels might be managed dilingently, but not the blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels.

Type 2 Diabetes, common in people over 25, has a genetic origin, explains dr. Magda Conradie of the Metabolic Unit at the Tygerberg Hospital in Western Cape. The initial problem is often not an insulin deficiency; quite the opposite. Initially the pancreas produces enough insulin, but the action of the insulin is insufficient. To compensate, the pancreas produces more and more insulin, but as soon as the pancreas tires, a relative insulin shortage develops.

The problem doesn’t stop there...

A decade ago researchers discovered that most patients suffering from type 2 diabetes also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, and are consequently more prone to die from heart disease or a stroke. About 80 % of people with type 2 diabetes die because of heart problems, and not because of glucose-related complications. This implies that a lot of patients with type 2 diabetes are indeed suffering from Metabolic Syndrome, but their high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels are either not diagnosed or not treated effectively enough. Blood pressure is only controlled well if it is maintained at or below 144/82 mm Hg. It is absolutely essential for doctors to treat the glucose part of Metabolic Syndrome as well as properly controlling high blood pressure and read more