A recent study carried out by scientists from the University of Leicester has established a link between hypoglycemia and the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with diabetes.

Professors Kamlesh Khunti and Melanie Davies, scientists at the University of the Leicester Diabetes Research Center, have confirmed an association between hypoglycemia and the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in patients treated with insulin with diabetes, which could leadto changes in the way in which some patients receive treatment.The results were published in the Diabetes Care magazine.

As part of an international collaboration with scientists from Imperial College in London, the Qimr Berghofer and Novo Nordisk A / S Medical Institute - with data from the Data Clinic Database of the United Kingdom Data Research - professors - professors - teachersKhunti and Davies showed that, following hypoglycemia, patients with diabetes had 60% more risk of cardiovascular events, and had between 2 to 2.5 times more likely to die during the same period as patients who did not experienceHypoglycemia.

Research on hypoglycemia and the risk of cardiovascular events was supported by the National Institute for the Collaboration of Health Research for Leadership in Research Applied to Health and Attention to East Midlands (INDH Clahrc EM) and the Leicester-Louchborough Diet Nihr, lifestyle and physical activity Biomedical Research Unit.

Kamlesh Khunti, professor of the Primary Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, who directed the research, said: “This is one of the first studies to inform the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in people with type 1 andType 2 Diabetes.The risks are very important and we have to identify these patients early in order to apply strategies to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. ”

Patients with diabetes have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels;This is an important cause of early death in these patients.The study results show that hypoglycemia, which occurs when the blood glucose of a patient becomes dangerously low, can trigger potentially fatal cardiovascular events.

The results of this research are a clear reminder of the challenges faced by patients with diabetes and could lead to changes in the management of insulin treated patients, especially those with a high risk of cardiovascular events.