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Diabetes is known as a risk factor for stroke. Those with diabetes were 1.5 times more likely to have a stroke than those without diabetes. This is because high blood sugar levels can form atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which a layer of fat (also called cholesterol blockage) forms in the blood vessels. Blockage or fat layer along the blood vessels will cause narrowing or, worse, blockage of the blood vessels. That is why, keeping blood sugar levels within normal limits is an obligation that diabetics must live up to.
Diabetics who also have a stroke usually have difficulty recovering after a stroke. The effects of stroke, such as paralysis or other problems, are also usually more difficult to cure in stroke patients with diabetes than in those who have had a stroke alone. Diabetics also have a higher risk of having a stroke again. Furthermore, the mortality rate for diabetic patients who have had a stroke is higher than in stroke patients without diabetes.
Stroke symptoms
Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke is important to prevent the disease from getting worse and facilitate stroke recovery. It is not only important for the sufferer, but also for those of you who accompany you so that you can provide first aid before it's too late. Some of the common stroke symptoms are as follows:
- Paralysis of the face, hands, or feet that tends to only occur on one side of the body
- A face that looks "drooping"
- Dazed
- Difficulty understanding speech
- Difficulty seeing, using either one or both eyes
- Dizzy
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Severe headaches for no apparent reason
Who is at risk for a stroke?
Diabetics do have a greater risk of stroke. However, people with the following conditions are equally at risk for stroke:
- Obesity
- Smoker
- Have high blood pressure
- Increased cholesterol levels in the blood
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Have a family history of stroke or other heart disease
Stroke recovery in diabetes patients
Diabetes is one of the factors causing stroke that can hinder recovery. Even so, it does not mean that diabetes patients have no hope of recovering from their stroke. One of the most important things in stroke recovery for diabetes patients is disciplined sugar control.
Hyperglycemia usually occurs in 30-40 percent of patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke. This may indicate a history of diabetes in the patient or tissue stress. In this situation, doctors will usually use insulin to treat hyperglycemia that occurs.
When the stroke has been successfully resolved and entered the recovery stage, the doctor may be able to administer drug therapy using Alteplase. This drug works to remove blood clots and minimize the damage caused by a stroke. Giving this drug is usually done within 4.5 hours after a stroke occurs. That is why, the faster and more precise the handling is carried out, the easier it will be for stroke recovery and its accompanying effects to be overcome. Apart from using drug therapy, sometimes surgical steps can also be needed to open blockages in blood vessels.
Lifestyle changes
The best treatments will still not have the maximum impact if they are not accompanied by changes in lifestyle to be healthier. Planning a balanced meal, quitting smoking, and exercising regularly can help you control blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Don't forget to be obedient and disciplined in taking the drugs your doctor has prescribed, both for diabetes you have and for your stroke recovery. Changes in lifestyle and discipline in the treatment plan that has been established will keep you from the risk of recurring strokes.
