Treat Diabetes As Aggressively As A Heart Attack, Say Danbury Hospital Physicians

More than 200 persons turned out to hear a panel of physicians discuss the prevention, treatment, and complications of diabetes at Danbury Hospital’s recent community meeting, “Living Well With Diabetes.”

During the three-hour meeting, a group of six physicians reiterated that diabetes is a widespread and complicated disease that affects the entire body.

Diabetes is more than a blood-sugar problem, according to Stanley Saperstein, MD, who specializes in nephrology. The doctors described diabetes as a “continuum, and a disease that affects many of the body’s systems, including the eyes, kidneys, endocrine system and metabolism, but especially the heart and arteries.

The meeting was sponsored by the Senior Physicians Group of Danbury Hospital, the Stanley Saperstein, MD, and Eleanor L. Saperstein Diabetes Mellitus Complications Educational Endowment, Danbury Hospital’s Department of Medicine, and the Western Connecticut Endocrine and Diabetes Center. In addition to Dr Saperstein, speakers included Howard Garfinkel, MD, nephrology; Ronald Raymond, MD, cardiology; Betty Klein, MD, ophthalmology; Robert Ruxin, MD, internal medicine; and Robert Savino, DO, chief, endocrinology and metabolism.

 “Type II diabetes is a vascular equivalent,” said Dr Saperstein, “and patients should be managed as if they’ve already had a heart attack.” While many people understand the need for diabetics to control their blood sugar to prevent further complications, the public might not recognize that diabetes can harm the cardiovascular system, he said.

Dr Raymond agreed. “Vascular disease accounts for almost 80 percent of all diabetic deaths,” he said. “Seventy-five percent of all hospitalizations in diabetics are due to cardiovascular disease.”

Diabetics also have an increased risk of heart attack.

“Risk of having a heart attack in a diabetic without known heart disease is the same as the risk of a heart attack in a nondiabetic person who has already had a heart attack,” said Dr Raymond.

Diabetic and prediabetic states can cause hardening of the arteries by harming the endothelium layer that lines the interior of blood vessels.

 “When endothelium works well it prevents heart attacks,” said Dr Raymond, by promoting dilation of arteries, and preventing clots and inflammation. When it is not working, it promotes constriction, plaque formation, clots, and inflammation.

Dr Raymond suggested that diabetics reduce their risk of cardiovascular problems by modifying risk factors, such as cutting cholesterol, treating blood pressure, stopping smoking, getting exercise, losing weight, and using the best medications to treat glucose levels and insulin resistance.

Another way to reduce risk is to watch one’s weight, according to Dr Savino. As obesity in the Unites States rises, so does diabetes, he said.

“More than one billion adults are overweight,” said Dr Savino. “Diabetes rates have increased 61 percent in direct correlation to obesity.” In addition to diabetes, Dr Savino said a lot of other health problems are associated with obesity.

Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate, according to Dr Ruxin, with one million new cases a year. It is growing at a faster rate than lung, breast, and prostate cancer, and will continue to be on the rise with the aging of the population.

Other ways that people can better manage their risks of getting diabetes is to keep their blood pressure at healthy readings, according to Dr Garfinkel. “The lower your blood pressure, the better your prognosis.” It is also a given, said Dr Garfinkel, that no one should be smoking.

Paying attention to eye health and getting regular eye exams also will help stave off chances that vision will be lost. “Diabetes is a major cause of vision loss,” said Dr Klein.

For more information on diabetes, call the Endocrine and Diabetes Center of Western Connecticut at 730-5944, or talk to your doctor. For a physician referral, call the Danbury Hospital Medical Staff Office at 797-7322 or visit www.danburyhospital.org.