HCM CITY — A 60-year-old diabetic patient from Thủ Đức District suffered a heart attack recently and was admitted to HCM City University Medical Centre for an emergency coronary intervention.

The patient, who has had diabetes for five years, had difficulty breathing and experienced pain while doing housework. She recovered well a week after treatment.   

Dr Nguyễn Minh Nhựt of the hospital said that heart disease was the most common and dangerous complication of diabetes, accounting for 70 per cent of deaths of diabetic patients.

Diabetes increase the risk of coronary artery disease by 1.8 times and of stroke by 2.4 times.

According to the American Heart Association, at least 68 per cent of people aged 65 or older with diabetes die from some form of heart disease.

Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.

Organisers of the conference “Cardiometabolic Disorders in Clinical Practice: A Comprehensive Update” in HCM City said that cardiometabolic disorders were the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and are intrinsically linked with diabetes, which affects more than 400 million people.

Nhựt said in a press release from the hospital that “increased blood sugar and insulin resistance are the main causes for the complication of cardiovascular disease among patients with diabetes.”

Age, smoking, obesity, hypertension and other factors also contribute to complications.

Symptoms of cardiovascular disease can be “silent” in the beginning, resulting in late diagnoses.

However, blood tests, ECG, echocardiography, and other tests can detect the disease early, Nhựt said.

“Early detection of complications helps to treat diabetic patients in a comprehensive way,” he said.

The American Heart Association considers diabetes to be one of the seven major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Dr Nguyễn Thy Khuê of the department of endocrinology at the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy told Việt Nam News that prompt intervention with significant changes in lifestyle should be carried out, including exercise, a balanced diet, cessation of smoking and reduced drinking.

Medicine for blood sugar control and prevention can also be prescribed by doctors.

Nhựt said that it was important to visit health facilities for periodic health examinations for screening of complications caused by diabetes.

Dr Trần Minh Triết of the HCM City University Medical Centre said that patients with diabetes should take part in health education programmes at hospitals to help them have a deeper understanding about the disease and ways to prevent complications. — VNS