About High Blood Glucose
High blood glucose is a common complication of diabetes. The body normally controls glucose levels with insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar by making it possible for the sugar to get into the cells, where it is used for energy. A healthy person may experience temporary spikes in blood sugar, usually after eating, but those levels will quickly return to normal when the body releases insulin. In a diabetic, the body does not produce insulin or does not respond to it, and the blood sugar levels stay high. Excess blood glucose is problematic for several reasons: the body is unable to access the energy from the glucose, glucose damages nerve endings, and excess blood glucose also increases the risk for atherosclerosis. Diabetes is preventable and treated with medication, diet, and exercise.
About Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a buildup of plaques on the walls of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is considered a heart disease, because it is often found in the arteries that feed the heart, but atherosclerosis can affect any arteries in the body. The biggest problem with atherosclerosis is that the plaques can restrict blood flow and reduce elasticity in the artery walls. If plaque gets big enough, it can completely block an artery. In the heart, this can lead to a heart attack. The plaques can also burst, causing blood clots, which can then block the artery or break off and travel to other areas of the body. A traveling clot, or embolism, may lodge in the brain or lungs, resulting in stroke and even death. Atherosclerosis is both preventable and treatable with medication, diet, exercise, and by maintaining healthy blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels.
Blood Glucose and Atherosclerosis
Scientists agree that metabolic anomalies make diabetics more prone to atherosclerosis, but they don't exactly know why. In a study conducted Ira J. Goldberg at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Goldberg induced diabetes in rabbits and fed them an "atherosclerotic" diet. The rabbits did not develop atherosclerosis. In mice, certain strains showed increased instances of atherosclerosis but also showed increased blood fats--therefore it was difficult to tell if high blood glucose was a factor. The American Diabetes Association cites a 2005 study that shows a link between diabetes, cholesterol, and atherosclerosis, but does not explain the exact mechanism. There is also speculation that the excess sugar in the blood may damage the vessels, causing scarring and plaque buildup, which then leads to atherosclerosis.
