Diet and exercise ought to have a similar impact
Quote of note:
British researchers selected 1,172 Type 1 patients throughout Europe and monitored their smoking habits, body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels over seven years. Nearly a quarter of them developed nerve damage during that time. After adjusting for how well patients' blood-sugar levels were controlled, scientists found an apparent connection between nerve damage and risk factors for heart disease. For example, patients who had high blood pressure were twice as likely to develop nerve problems.
Tie seen on heart risks, diabetes complications
May help predict nerve problems
By Alicia Chang, Associated Press | January 27, 2005
For decades, people with so-called juvenile diabetes have been told that controlling their blood sugar was all they could do to prevent nerve damage that can lead to the amputation of a foot or leg.
But a large new British study suggests they should follow the same advice given to other diabetics: Don't smoke, and watch your weight and blood pressure.
These heart disease risk factors were almost as important as blood-sugar levels in predicting which diabetics would develop nerve problems.
In light of the findings, diabetes specialists said cholesterol-lowering statin drugs and other heart disease treatments should be studied to see if they can help stave off or slow the progression of nerve damage in diabetics.
