Diabetes Talks

Essential diabetes information

TRANSFORMING THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT TYPE 2 DIABETES

Learn about type 2 diabetes and the interconnected systems

‘Diseases can come in tandem.'

Learn about type 2 diabetes and the interconnected systems

What is the connection between type 2 diabetes and the heart?

Type 2 diabetes and the heart are interconnected. The high blood sugar that people with type 2 diabetes have means they are at an increased risk of developing heart disease.1

High blood sugar resulting from unmanaged type 2 diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves that help your heart to work as it should. If left unchecked this can eventually lead to cardiovascular disease, like a heart attack or heart failure.1,2

The close relationship between type 2 diabetes and the heart also means that when a person adapts their lifestyle to improve the health of one of these organ systems, positive improvements are likely to be seen in other areas.1

What is the connection between type 2 diabetes and the heart
did you know

Did you know:

At least one in three people with type 2 diabetes have cardiovascular disease.3

People with type 2 diabetes are up to four times more likely to develop heart disease than people without diabetes.4

If you have questions or concerns about the interconnectivity of these conditions, speak to your doctor.

What is the connection between type 2 diabetes and the kidneys?

Blood sugar level and the kidneys are interconnected, meaning that when a person has type 2 diabetes, they are likely to experience kidney problems if their blood sugar level isn’t controlled.1 

The uncontrolled high blood sugar caused by type 2 diabetes can cause significant damage to your kidneys, making them work less efficiently. Proper management of your type 2 diabetes, through changes in lifestyle and adequate treatments, can stabilize your kidney health and reduce the chances of further damage being caused.1 

Type 2 diabetes can also cause high blood pressure which is one of the major causes of chronic kidney disease.3 Doctors will often prescribe treatments to help control your blood pressure alongside medicine to control your blood sugar, to prevent damage to your kidneys.1 

Once you have your type 2 diabetes under control, this can have a positive impact on the kidneys, due to the close connection between the organ systems.

What is the connection between type 2 diabetes and the kidneys
Approximately half of people with type 2 diabetes

Did you know:

Approximately half of people with type 2 diabetes have some level of kidney disease.5

If you have questions or concerns about the interconnectivity of these conditions, speak to your doctor.

References

  1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edition. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation; 2019. Available at: www.diabetesatlas.org (Last accessed: October 2021).

  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes and Your Heart. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-and-heart.html (Last accessed: October 2021).

  3. Einarson TR., et al. Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Literature Review of Scientific Evidence From Across the World in 2007-2017. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2018;17(83):1–19.

  4. Lardinois CK. No More Heart Disease—Addressing Major Modifiable Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes. US Endocrinology. 2011;7(1):16–22.

  5. Thomas MC. Changing Epidemiology of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Associated Chronic Kidney Disease. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2016;12(2):73-81.

Job code: PC-CRP-102667

Date of preparation: November 2021