Scientists at the University of Leicester have demonstrated for the first time the way in which the level of sugar in your blood can affect the contraction of blood vessels, with potentially dangerous effects on the heart and blood pressure. Researchers from the University’s Department of Cardiovascular Sciences have shown that blood vessels contract more strongly at raised glucose levels than at ‘normal physiological’ levels. Blood vessels contract and relax to control blood pressure. In general, the more contracted the blood vessels are, the higher the blood pressure. Heart attacks occur when a coronary artery, which provides the blood to the heart muscle to give the required nutrients and oxygen, is blocked. High glucose at the time of heart attack could make this block more severe by causing the blood vessel to contract, leading to a higher risk of complications.
Said Dr Richard Rainbow, Lecturer in Cardiovascular Cell Physiology, “We have shown that the amount of sugar, or glucose, in the blood changes the behaviour of blood vessels, making them contract more than normal. This could result in higher blood pressure, or could reduce the amount of blood that flows through vital organs. We have identified a known signalling protein family, protein kinase C, that is a key part of this enhanced contractile response, and have also shown in our experiments that we can restore the normal level of contractile response, and reverse the effects on the heart, with inhibitors of these proteins.” He added, “Our studies show that glucose has an important physiological effect on the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system.”
Gestational diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk
According to a new research that appears in ‘The JAMA Network Journals’, “A history of gestational diabetes is associated with a modest higher long-term risk of cardiovascular disease in women and adhering to a healthy lifestyle over time appears to help mitigate the risk.” The American Heart Association identifies gestational diabetes as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women based on evidence for the relationship between gestational diabetes and markers of cardiometabolic risk.