Type 2 Diabetes Changes Heart Structure in Patients: New Study Reveals

Type ⁢2 diabetes directly alters heart​ structure and energy production, increasing ⁤the risk of heart failure, according too new research from the University of Sydney.​ The study, published in EMBO Molecular ‌Medicine, provides a molecular explanation for the long-observed link between the two conditions.

researchers lead by Dr. Benjamin Hunter and associate‍ Professor Sean Lal analyzed heart⁣ tissue donated by patients undergoing heart transplants in ⁣Sydney, comparing it to‍ tissue from healthy donors. Their findings reveal‌ specific molecular changes within ‍heart cells and ⁢alterations to the physical structure of heart muscle in individuals with ⁢diabetes.

These effects were most pronounced in patients with⁣ ischemic cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of heart failure. The research team discovered a unique molecular profile in patients suffering from ‌both diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

“We’ve known for a long time there’s a correlation between heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but this is the first research to look at both diabetes and ischemic​ heart disease simultaneously occurring‌ and discover a unique molecular profile⁣ in people who have ⁣both conditions,”​ Dr. Hunter said.

The study’s results suggest diabetes isn’t simply a risk factor for heart failure,but actively contributes to the⁤ disease process‍ at a cellular level. Further research is needed​ to explore potential therapeutic interventions targeting these ‍molecular changes.