Do patients with type 2 diabetes underestimate their risk of cardiovascular disease?

The International Diabetes Federation, in partnership with the pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, is conducting the first global online survey of patients living with type 2 diabetes, to evaluate their awareness and knowledge of cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of disability and death for patients with type 2 diabetes.  The purpose of the survey is to better understand if there are areas specific to cardiovascular risk, that patients are not aware, or need additional education. Learnings from this survey will be used to help improve education, strategies, and tactics for better patient health.  It is imperative patients fully understand the disease and the risks associated with type 2 diabetes.  The experts at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute want to help you by providing the latest information and medical advances related to type 2 diabetes.^1,2,4

The type 2 diabetes survey is open until March of 2018 but interim results of the survey were presented at the International Diabetes Federation Congress 2017 in Abu Dhabi.  Responses from 943 participants in 32 countries showed:

• 1 in 3 respondents living with type 2 diabetes consider their risk of CVD to be low²
• 26% of respondents had either never learned about CVD or received information on CVD several years following their type 2 diabetes diagnosis²
• 1 in 6 respondents had never discussed their type 2 diabetes and CVD risk with a healthcare professional²

According to the World Health Organization, in 2015 an estimated 1.6 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most challenging health problems that can cause secondary complications.  Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in people with type 2 diabetes followed by renal disease and cerebrovascular disease.^1,4 Stem cell therapy has been shown to improve the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Stem cells provide an unlimited source of cells for repairing or replacing damaged tissue. Several recent studies have suggested that the adult bone marrow stem cells can influence β-cell regeneration in diabetes. It has also been shown that bone marrow cells and mesenchymal stem cells when concomitantly administrated improve blood glucose and serum insulin concentrations, rapidly returning them to normal levels. Improving beta cell function, blood glucose levels and serum insulin concentrations can reduce the symptoms of type 2 diabetes as well as the risks associated with the disease.

Stem cell therapy can also improve the symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease. Stem cell transplantation uses healthy cells to promote the repair of damaged cells and regeneration of healthy and functional cells to repair injured tissue.³ The therapeutic effect of stem cell transplantation in patients with cardiovascular disease may be due to the paracrine effect. The theory is transplanted stem cells repair damaged tissue by releasing factors that promote regeneration of healthy stem cells, reduce inflammation, promote the growth of new blood vessels, inhibit cell death, and reduce hypertrophy.³ Learn more about type 2 diabetes and the secondary risks associated with the disease by contacting the physicians at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute.

Under the direction of Dr. Leslie Mesen, the Stem Cells Transplant Institute provides government approved stem cell therapy for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and would like more information on how stem cell therapy can help reduce the risks associated with diabetes, contact the Stem Cells Transplant Institute today.

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