Patients who have developed diabetes or insulin resistance disorders may have an increased risk of blocked arteries, according to a study published in Cell Metabolism.
While previous studies have shown that insulin resistance can affect the liver, muscles and fat, a team of researchers used mice to see how the disorder affects the arteries. Using animals that were prone to atherosclerosis, a condition that causes fat to build up on the artery walls, the team found that these animals would become sicker if their artery linings couldnt absorb insulin.
The researchers discovered that the mice that suffered from insulin resistance experienced hardening of their arteries. Also, the study showed that mice diagnosed with atherosclerosis had a higher risk of suffering from heart disease and strokewhich are both complications that are prevalent among diabetes patients.
The team concluded that this study helps scientists better understand insulin resistance.
In 2007, approximately 23.6 million people in the United States were diagnosed with diabetes, with more than 5.7 million cases yet to be diagnosed, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).