[Heart failure in diabetes]

Abstract

Interactions of glucose metabolism and chronic heart failure have been confirmed by many epidemiologic studies. The association of HbA1c with an increasing risk of heart failure clearly underlines the connection between both diseases. Coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension and diabetic cardiomyopathy are long-term complications of diabetes mellitus, resulting in diabetic heart failure. Dysfunction of many regulation systems leads to specific diabetic cardiomyopathy, which has been firstly described by Rubler. A reduction in the cardiac expression of the Na-Ca exchanger pump and SERCA2a protein results in an imbalance in cardiac calcium handling. The overactive renin angiotensin aldosteron system (RAAS) also contributes to the impairment of myocardial function. Hyperlipidaemia, hpyerinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia directly trigger diabetic cardiomyopathy. Generally chronic heart failure is a clinical diagnosis verified by blood tests like NT-proBNP and cardiac ultrasound. Recommendations on treatment of diabetic heart failure are based on subgroup analysis of the large heart failure trials.