Diabetes

With an upsurge in the rate of diabetes attack worldwide, sufferers have been warned to pay as much attention to cholesterols as they paid to diabetes. A study has found that, majority of people with diabetes are not controlling cholesterol levels effectively, putting them at increased risk of heart disease.

The leader of the group Barbara said the most recent national diabetes audit found many are not addressing high cholesterol, which according to him meant the health of thousands was being put at unnecessary risk

Type-2 diabetes is a situation whereby, the body makes too little insulin or where it fails to make it properly. In those with Type 1 diabetes, the body cannot produce any insulin at all. People with both types of the condition have a higher risk of heart disease than the rest of the population.

Cardiovascular disease is linked to 44 per cent of deaths in people with Type 1 and 52 per cent with Type 2. People with Type 2 diabetes also have twice the risk of stroke within the first five years of diagnosis compared with the general population.

Barbara Young said the findings were worrying, adding: “It is not clear why the high number of people having their annual cholesterol check is not translating into better cholesterol control, but it is an issue that is putting the health of hundreds of thousands of people at risk.

“It will often be appropriate to prescribe medication such as statins, but it is no good doing this without explaining the importance of taking the medication regularly and the potentially devastating consequences of not doing so.

People with Type 2 diabetes also have twice the risk of stroke within the first five years of diagnosis compared with the general population.  “

Other ways people can help improve their cholesterol levels include losing weight, exercising daily, reducing alcohol consumption,  stopping smoking and eating a healthy diet, low in fat.”