Chronically elevated blood glucose damages the lining of blood vessels, promotes inflammation, and accelerates atherosclerosis, the process by which fatty plaques build up inside arteries and restrict blood flow. Diabetes also commonly occurs alongside high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, and central obesity, each of which independently increases cardiovascular risk. As a Cardio-Diabetologist, I manage both conditions together rather than separately, because a patient with type 2 diabetes who is not having their blood pressure and cholesterol actively controlled is not receiving complete care. Newer diabetes medications including SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists also reduce cardiovascular events, making medication choice part of cardiac risk management.
Written by Dr. Santosh Kumar PK, MBBS (Karnataka University), Masters in Diabetes Management (Middlesex University, London), PGD Clinical Cardiology (Royal College of Physicians, UK), PGD Endocrinology and Clinical Diabetology (Royal College of Physicians, UK), Consultant Physician and Cardio-Diabetologist, Chirayu Multispeciality Clinic, Kasturi Nagar, Bengaluru. Phone: +91 9164442266.
