diabetes Heart Related Changes Due To Lt Diabetes

[green]

Over the last several months my doctors have noted that I have a high resting pulse (over 100 bpm), high blood pressure (always 120/80 up to 12 months ago, now it's closer to 145/88 ish, and an enlarged heart. I was curious if other hadit members with Diabetes have similar issues.

Thanks,

Green

[Berta]

I dont know what "Lt" diabetes is.


Although Wikiperia is not a medical source, this is a fairly good explanation of how diabetes can affect the heart.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_cardiomyopathy

This is a better one in my opinion:



Click on th pdf icon for the VA Training Letter on diabetes and I believe the heart info starts at page 9.

I am not a doctor but had a DMII AO death claim and did extensive research for that, even before I obtained IMOs.

Diabetes does not kill anyone- it's complications can.

Atherosclerosis (in my lay opinion) due to high triglycerides and high cholestrerol in diabetics is one of the main causes of ischemic heart disease and stroke in diabetics. But these are conditions that early diagnosis and treatment can avoid.

ECHO tests can rule in or out atherosclerotic involvement.

What do you doctors attribute the changes to? It could be due to many things.

This is one of the many treatises I used to prove that my husband has undiagnosed and untreated diabetes mellitus:

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/4/1/121.abstract

Your doctors are the best source of why they feel your heart has experienced changes.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy ( enlargement of LV heart due to thickened muscles), is most often due to HBP:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/left-ventricular-hypertrophy/basics/causes/con-20026690

[green]

Berta, first I have to say how appreciative I am of your help. I sincerely appreciate your replies as they always have information that help me research and "think through" the situation.

I apologize for the LT reference, I've spent some much time recently looking through chart notes and other medical records I suppose I am no longer providing clear information. It meant to indicate Long Term.

My situation is a little strange I believe. I have had no history of heart disease but have noticed a few oddities. I recently had a CT scan which stated I have an enlarged heart "cardiomegaly" (but my heart and arterys have no plaque). Additionally, my blood pressure up to a couple years ago was always 120/80 and has recently started to climb and are now more typically 140/90. I am on a drug that is meant to protect my kidneys but is also used to lower blood pressure, the doctor recently increased the dosage. Lastly for the last 5 or 6 years my resting pulse rate has been over 100 "constant tachycardia". I'm guessing all of these issues are related to autonomic neuropathy but I suppose I need a consult with a cardiologist to really sort this out.

[Berta]

Yes Green I agree.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is get a non VA consult.from a specialist.

And it often eases our mind greatly.

It does sound to me that you are getting good medical treatment from VA, but you do seem concerned about the tachycardia.

Renal disease ( kidney disease) is one more potential complication of diabetes and I very am glad you are getting a med to "protect" future kidney problems.

No Plaque is a WONDERFUL thing to have!

I met a woman at my church the other day who has had diabetes for most of her adult life.

She is 82 years old and has watched her glucose levels and diet as faithfully.as she can.

She also survived cancer many years ago. Her main problem is peripheral neuropathy from the diabetes.