Women with diabetes twice as likely to suffer a stroke

[DCUK NewsBot]

An Austrian expert has said women with diabetes are twice as likely to suffer a stroke compared to those without diabetes. Alexandra Kautzky-Willer, from the Medical University of Vienna and the Vienna General Hospital, was speaking ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14. Kautzky-Willer's comments come following recent studies that women with diabetes are three times more likely to have a stroke than men with the disease. Blood sugar levels Disturbed blood sugar regulation is the reason for this increased risk, Kautzky-Willer revealed, but blood sugar levels are not the only problem. Hypertension, inflammation and various lifestyle changes, such as depression, also play a role in this enhanced risk. Kautzky-Willer advocated that not only should diabetes therapy be sought by women with diabetes, but that increased exercise can also act as a treatment for these risk factors. Eating a healthy diet can help additionally, and although women generally eat less fat and red meat in their diets than men, Kautzky-Willer pointed out they also engage in less activity. "The vascular function and blood coagulation are particularly unfavourable changes, which leads to women with diabetes having a higher risk for the formation of thromboses," Kautzky-Willer said. "It is about a general lifestyle intervention and treatment of all risk factors".

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