Diabetic Stroke: Act Before It is Too Late

Diabetes is a genetic or acquired disease that prevents our body from processing sugars. It can be due to lack of insulin or resistance of body tissues to it. Various acute and chronic systemic complications of diabetes are known. Among the various complications, Diabetic stroke is the most fatal and life threatening. It is estimated that by 2030, 439 million worldwide will be affected by Diabetes.

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Diabetes and Stroke: How are they related?

Long term high blood glucose damages the body’s blood vessels, increasing the chance of stroke. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts. A stroke results in interruption to the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. It in turn leads to brain tissue damage. A patient with Diabetic stroke may present with sudden onset symptoms like:

1. Difficulty in speaking or understanding speech
2. Numbness or paralysis (inability to move)
3. Memory loss
4. Trouble thinking, paying attention, learning or making judgments
5. Seizures/fits
6. Sudden death

Diabetic patients have co-existing conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol, increased blood pressure and obesity that increase the risk of stroke. Associated risk factors like age more than 55, previous history of neurological disease in the family, sedentary life style and smoking add to the risk (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Diabetes and Stroke

Go to source).

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Warning Signs of Diabetic Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency. Recognize these warning signs and seek medical aid immediately.

1. Sudden confusion
2. Inability to do day to day chores
3. Difficulty seeing or double vision
4. Difficulty in speaking
5. Severe, sudden headache
6. Dizziness, difficulty in walking and maintain balance
7. Weakness or numbness on one side of the body (for example, one side of the face, one arm or one leg)

Early recognition of symptoms help in early intervention. Transient stroke like symptoms also increase the risk of future strokes. The acronym BE FAST to remember the signs of stroke, comes handy.

• B- Balance Loss
• E- Eye changes
• F- Facial droop
• A-Arm weakness
• S- Speech Difficulty
• T- Time to call help (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
  Get serious about stroke prevention
  
  Go to source)

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Prevention of Diabetic Stroke: Measures you can take

Prevention is the only key to a healthy life. The following healthcare tips may help in managing the risk and incidence of Diabetic stroke:

1. Routine check-ups:

   Make sure to get a half yearly routine panel done including Blood sugars, HbA1c, Lipid profile along with blood pressure monitoring

2. Medical Compliance:

   Take your diabetic medicines on time, and also medicines for any co-existing diseases if any

3. Lifestyle changes:

   Eat a healthy balanced diet, stay physically active

4. Weight reduction:

   If you are overweight, try to reduce it to healthy limits

5. Abstinence from Smoking:

   Quit smoking and reform towards a non-habitual living

6. Adequate sleep:

   Sleep hygiene helps to reduce stress and maintain body vitals within normal limits

7. Anti-cholesterol:

   drugs and d rugs to lower blood pressure (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Link between diabetes and stroke
   
   Go to source)

Diabetes is a modifiable risk factor, which may prevent stroke if managed well. Hyperglycemia or increased blood sugar levels during stroke may lead to poor outcome. Aggressive glucose monitoring, lifestyle changes and modification of other associated risk factors are critical steps toward effective stroke prevention.

References:

1. Diabetes and Stroke - (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9812-diabetes-and-stroke)
2. Get serious about stroke prevention - (https://diabetes.org/diabetes/stroke)
3. Link between diabetes and stroke - (https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications/stroke)

Source-Medindia