Postprandial hyperglycemia or after-meal spikes in blood sugar levels are common among diabetics. After eating a meal, blood glucose levels are high, but what about the risk of diabetes complications like heart disease or stroke? This article examines the question does postprandial hyperglycemia indicate future heart problems. A significant body of research is available in this area, which we will touch on throughout this article.
What Is Postprandial Hyperglycemia?
Postprandial hyperglycemia describes a heightened blood glucose level after a meal. In type 2 diabetes patients, the pancreas may be slow to release insulin after a meal. As a result, the diabetic suffers postprandial hyperglycemia. Maintaining blood sugar levels is difficult because diabetics have to manage their meals along with their insulin levels. To prevent hypoglycemia and postprandial hyperglycemia, they need to eat when the insulin is peaking.
Postprandial Hyperglycemia and Cardiovascular Disease
So, does postprandial hyperglycemia indicate future heart problems? Studies have shown that postprandial hyperglycemia puts a strain on the blood vessels. In that context, hyperglycemic spikes can lead to cardiovascular diseases, including arteriosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke. Because blood sugar level spikes lead to oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions in the blood vessels, experts see it as a major risk of cardiovascular disease.
To reduce the risks of developing cardiovascular disease among diabetics, scientists now believe that dealing with postprandial hyperglycemia should play a central role.
Final Thoughts
When answering the question does postprandial hyperglycemia indicate future heart problems? One would have to note that frequent blood sugar level spikes can damage the blood vessels. The extent of this damage is serious enough for experts to emphasize the importance of managing and preventing postprandial hyperglycemia.
Diabetics and their medical care team need to ensure that blood sugar level spikes do not occur frequently if they want to prevent heart problems.
