{"id":31905,"date":"2026-10-06T13:45:44","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T11:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.nefrocenter.it\/cardiovascular-complications-of-diabetes\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T13:45:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T11:45:44","slug":"cardiovascular-complications-of-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.nefrocenter.it\/en\/cardiovascular-complications-of-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"The cardiovascular complications of diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we talk about diabetes, the first thought almost always goes to blood glucose. Controlling blood sugar is certainly essential, but living with diabetes also means paying attention to the health of the heart and blood vessels<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Over time, in fact, diabetes can promote changes in the arteries and be associated with other important cardiovascular risk factors. This is why prevention should not focus only on blood glucose values: blood pressure, cholesterol, body weight, physical activity and smoking are all part of the same picture.<\/p>\n

Why diabetes can damage the heart<\/h2>\n

High blood glucose over prolonged periods can contribute to damaging the walls of the blood vessels and promote inflammatory and atherosclerotic processes.<\/p>\n

Atherosclerosis<\/strong> is characterized by the formation of plaques in the arteries. Over time these can narrow the passage of blood or lead to acute complications.<\/p>\n

When the problem affects the coronary arteries<\/strong>, that is, the vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the heart muscle, the risk of developing coronary artery disease and, in certain circumstances, a myocardial infarction<\/strong> increases.<\/p>\n

Moreover, diabetes often does not come alone. Hypertension, cholesterol abnormalities, overweight and obesity can coexist and further contribute to cardiovascular risk.<\/p>\n

In diabetes the signs of a heart attack can be less obvious<\/h2>\n

Pain or a feeling of tightness in the chest, sometimes radiating to the arm, shoulder, jaw or back, are among the best-known signs of an acute heart problem. They may be accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or sudden malaise.<\/p>\n

In people with diabetes, however, the situation can be more complex.<\/p>\n

One of the complications of the disease is diabetic neuropathy<\/strong>, which can alter the perception of pain. In some patients a coronary problem can therefore present with less characteristic symptoms, such as breathlessness, unusual weakness, nausea or sudden tiredness.<\/p>\n

This does not mean that every complaint is necessarily related to the heart, but it makes it even more important not to underestimate new or sudden symptoms and to seek medical help promptly when an emergency is suspected.<\/p>\n

Cardiovascular complications and their symptoms<\/h2>\n

The cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes do not concern the coronary arteries alone.<\/p>\n

Diabetes can be part of the complex set of factors that promote the development of heart failure<\/strong>, a condition in which the heart is unable to adequately meet the body\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

Breathlessness during exertion that was previously well tolerated, difficulty breathing, swelling of the legs and ankles or a progressive reduction in the ability to carry out normal daily activities deserve a medical assessment.<\/p>\n

Here too, however, the symptoms are not specific and may depend on many other conditions. Diagnosis must always be left to the physician.<\/p>\n

Heart and kidneys are closely connected<\/h2>\n

There is another aspect that deserves attention. Diabetes can affect the cardiovascular system and the kidneys<\/strong> at the same time, two closely interconnected physiological systems.<\/p>\n

A struggling heart can alter the perfusion of the kidneys, and impaired kidney function can make the management of blood pressure, fluids and cardiovascular risk more complex.<\/p>\n

For a person with diabetes, therefore, checking kidney function regularly does not mean dealing with a problem completely separate from the cardiological one. It means looking at one\u2019s health from a more complete perspective.<\/p>\n

Blood pressure matters as much as blood glucose<\/h2>\n

People with diabetes should know not only their blood glucose values but also their blood pressure<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Diabetes and hypertension can in fact act on the arteries at the same time, increasing the load on the cardiovascular system and also contributing to the deterioration of kidney function.<\/p>\n

The same applies to cholesterol and triglycerides<\/strong>. An altered lipid profile can promote atherosclerosis and must be assessed as part of the person\u2019s overall cardiovascular risk.<\/p>\n

Treatment targets are not necessarily the same for everyone: age, duration of diabetes, any previous cardiovascular events, kidney function and other conditions help to determine the most appropriate pathway.<\/p>\n

Protecting the heart<\/h2>\n

Cardiovascular prevention in people with diabetes cannot be reduced to a single test or a single medicine.<\/p>\n

Good metabolic control remains essential, but it must be accompanied by an appropriate lifestyle. Not smoking, staying physically active, following a balanced diet, controlling weight and monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol<\/strong> are measures that work in the same direction.<\/p>\n

Diabetes treatments have also changed profoundly. For some patients, medicines are now available that, in addition to metabolic control, have shown cardiovascular benefits and, under certain conditions, kidney benefits too. The choice, however, must be personalized by the physician on the basis of the individual clinical profile.<\/p>\n

The cardiology check-up<\/h2>\n

There is no single diagnostic pathway valid for everyone with diabetes.<\/p>\n

The need for a cardiology assessment and any tests must be established by considering age, symptoms, duration of the disease, blood pressure, lipid profile, kidney function, family history and the presence of other conditions or previous cardiovascular events<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The goal is not to multiply tests without reason, but to recognize the individual\u2019s level of risk and schedule check-ups that are really useful.<\/p>\n

Treating diabetes also means protecting the heart<\/h2>\n

So there is an important change of perspective: for a person with diabetes, taking care of their health does not only mean asking \u201cWhat is my blood glucose?\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It also means knowing how blood pressure and cholesterol are doing, knowing one\u2019s kidney function, talking to the physician about cardiovascular risk and not ignoring any symptoms.<\/p>\n

The heart can suffer the effects of diabetes long before an acute event occurs. And this is precisely where prevention takes on its most concrete meaning: acting on risk factors while there is still time to change them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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