Diabetes itself is not terrible, but the complications hidden behind it are—and stroke is one of the most dangerous ones!
Stroke is known for its “four highs”: high incidence, high recurrence rate, high mortality, and high disability rate. It has become the number one killer causing death and disability among adults in China. People with diabetes have a much higher risk of stroke than the general population.
Diabetes is one of the major risk factors for stroke. High blood sugar acts like a “troublemaker” that accelerates damage to both large and small blood vessels, greatly speeding up the progression of atherosclerosis.
Our blood vessels are originally like smooth highways where blood flows smoothly. However, under the influence of high blood sugar, the vessel walls gradually become rough and uneven. Fats, cholesterol, and other substances in the blood are like gravel on the road, easily depositing on these damaged areas and forming atherosclerotic plaques. Once a plaque in a blood vessel ruptures, it can block a cerebral blood vessel and trigger a stroke.
In addition, many people with diabetes also suffer from hypertension, high blood lipids, obesity, and other conditions. Hypertension places greater stress on blood vessels, while high blood lipids and obesity increase the body’s metabolic burden. The interaction of these factors further raises the risk of stroke.