People with diabetes are at risk of havinghigh blood glucose.
Having high blood glucose levels can harm blood vessels over time.
A damaged blood vessel in the brain may become blocked or break, which causes astroke.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
A stroke is an emergency condition that can lead to brain damage and death.
This article will discuss the connection between diabetes and stroke, including causes, risks, and prevention.
A metabolic disease affects how the body uses the nutrients from food to fuel the cells of the body.
When you eat, the body breaks food down and releases glucose (sugar) into the bloodstream.
This causes an organ in the digestive system, the pancreas, to release a hormone calledinsulin.
One of the results is a rise in the glucose level in the bloodstream.
The symptoms of diabetes can include:
An increased blood glucose level can damage blood vessels over time.
Blood vessels may become blocked or burst, leaving a part of the body without a blood supply.
When this happens in the brain, a stroke can occur.
Altered vision, memory loss, paralysis, and other signs and symptoms may result.
These conditions are also risk factors for a stroke.
Metabolic syndromeis another condition connected to diabetes.
Having metabolic syndrome may increase the risk of stroke by as much as 20% to 40%.
Having diabetes and microalbuminuria is associated with an 80% increased risk of stroke.
Unfortunately, people with diabetes tend to do worse after having a stroke than people who dont have diabetes.
There are recommendations for the care of stroke in people who have diabetes.
A stroke is both physically and mentally stressful.
Stress can affect blood glucose levels.
Blood glucose levels are often too high in people with diabetes who are hospitalized for a stroke.
Normalizing blood glucose levels might also improve your outcome and lower your risk of death.
Insulin is usually given to manage blood glucose levels.
TPA dissolves blood clots that cause some types of strokes.
Other blood thinners such asheparinoraspirinmay be needed when a blockage causes a stroke.
Additionally, medications can help manageblood pressure.
Varioussurgical procedurescan also alleviate any brain swelling or bleeding in the brain.
Poststrokerehabilitationmay includephysical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Prevention
Prevention of stroke in people with diabetes is important and can take many forms.
Healthcare providers may use a risk assessment tool to estimate the risk of stroke in a person with diabetes.
Stroke prevention measures include making adjustments to your lifestyle.
beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers among others.
For those who have dyslipidemia, medications calledstatinsmight be recommended to reduce cholesterol levels.
Other methods of preventing stroke include the use of aspirin and/or fibrate medications.
Fibrates such as Lopid (gemfibrozil) lower triglyceride levels and increase HDL cholesterol.
However, aspirin and other blood thinners (anticoagulants) shouldnotbe taken if you have had a hemorrhagic stroke.
Summary
People who live with diabetes should be aware of their risk of getting a stroke.
Well-controlled blood glucose levels may not lower the risk of a stroke.
Prevention strategies will be key.
Frequently Asked Questions
Its important to recognize a stroke and get care immediately.
This gives the best chance for a good outcome.
African American women and Hispanic women have a higher prevalence of having a stroke compared to White women.
The signs and symptoms of a stroke are similar in people of any sex.
However, women may also experience other symptoms such as fatigue and nausea or vomiting.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is also calledministroke.
This happens when there is a temporary blockage of the blood flow leading to the brain.
They are also sometimes called a warning stroke.
Its important to get care immediately if a mini-stroke is suspected.
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