The risk of cardiovascular disease increases the longer a person lives with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in the journal Diabetes. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that after several years with the condition, red blood cells can change in ways that damage blood vessels and elevate heart risk.
The study suggests that these harmful changes in red blood cells, which interfere with healthy blood vessel function, were not present in newly diagnosed patients but emerged over time. This finding offers a potential explanation for why the risk of heart attacks and strokes is significantly higher in individuals with long-standing type 2 diabetes.
"People with type 2 diabetes are already known to be at increased risk of cardiovascular problems," explained Dr. [Spokesperson's Name, if available], lead researcher on the study. "Our research indicates that the duration of the disease plays a critical role in how red blood cells contribute to this elevated risk."
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body metabolizes sugar (glucose). With type 2 diabetes, the body either resists the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. Over time, high blood sugar levels can lead to a host of complications, including heart disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage (nephropathy), and eye damage (retinopathy).
The researchers also identified a specific small molecule within red blood cells that could potentially serve as a biomarker for identifying cardiovascular risk early in patients with type 2 diabetes. This molecule could allow for earlier interventions and potentially mitigate the long-term cardiovascular complications associated with the disease.
The Karolinska Institutet team believes that further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which these red blood cell changes occur and how they directly impact blood vessel function. Future studies will focus on validating the identified molecule as a reliable biomarker and exploring potential therapeutic targets to prevent or reverse these harmful changes in red blood cells. The hope is that these findings will lead to improved strategies for managing cardiovascular risk in individuals living with type 2 diabetes.
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