How does Sydney University research show type 2 diabetes affects the heart?

The research found that type 2 diabetes causes microscopic changes in heart tissue, leading to increased stiffness and reduced pumping strength.

What are the hidden dangers of type 2 diabetes on the heart?

Diabetes disrupts heart muscle fibers and impairs the heart's energy production, weakening it over time and increasing heart failure risk.

Can new treatments help reverse diabetes-related heart damage?

By identifying issues in energy production and fibrosis, researchers are exploring new therapies to protect heart energy systems and slow tissue damage.

Home / Health / Beyond Blood Sugar: How Type 2 Diabetes Warps Heart Tissue

Beyond Blood Sugar: How Type 2 Diabetes Warps Heart Tissue

5 Jan

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Summary

Type 2 diabetes physically alters heart structure, causing stiffness.
Diabetes disrupts heart muscle fibers and energy production.
New research examined real human heart tissue for findings.

Beyond Blood Sugar: How Type 2 Diabetes Warps Heart Tissue

New research from Sydney University has uncovered that type 2 diabetes significantly impacts the heart's physical structure, making it stiffer and weaker. This deterioration affects vital muscle fibers and energy production within the heart, increasing the risk of heart failure over time.

The study analyzed donated human heart tissue, distinguishing it from previous animal-model research. Findings revealed that diabetes causes microscopic changes, including fibrosis, where scar-like tissue replaces flexible muscle, hindering the heart's ability to relax and contract effectively.

This detailed understanding of how diabetes damages heart tissue, particularly the disruption of energy pathways and increased stiffness, opens new avenues for targeted treatments and improved cardiac risk assessment for individuals living with diabetes.