Managing blood sugar levels has always been crucial for those with diabetes when it comes to the prevention of a stroke. That said, a new study finds that there may be an ideal target blood sugar level range for those with diabetes who have had a stroke. This ideal blood sugar level range can lower the risk of several types of vascular diseases, such as strokes or heart attacks, later. This is based on the research published in the online issue of Neurology, which is the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Researchers began by acknowledging the fact that those with diabetes may be at an increased risk of undergoing the first stroke. Thus, there is an association between elevated blood sugar levels and stroke. They went on to say that according to the study conducted by them, there is an optimal blood sugar level that may play a key role in minimising the risk of undergoing another stroke (or repeat stroke), a heart attack, or several other vascular problems. This blood sugar level range was found to be between 6.8% and 7.0% when it comes to the glycosylated haemoglobin or HbA1C test.
This study involved 18,567 individuals with diabetes, with the average age being 70. All participants were admitted to a hospital for ischemic stroke, which is primarily caused by a blood clot. After admission, researchers used the HbA1C test to successfully determine an individual’s average blood glucose level over the past 2-3 months. This glycosylated haemoglobin test or HbA1C test (also simply known as A1C) efficiently measures a percentage of haemoglobin proteins in the blood that are coated with glucose. A level below 5.7% is normal, whereas anywhere above 6.5% is an indicator of diabetes. The participants in the study had an average A1C of 7.5%.
After a period of one year, researchers conducted a follow-up to ascertain if there was a probable association between A1C levels and the risk of undergoing another stroke, heart attack, or death from these or other vascular complications.
Among all participants, 1,437 (nearly 8%) had a heart attack or died due to vascular disease within a year of the study’s commencement. Moreover, 954 (or 5%) individuals had another subsequent stroke.
How High Does Your Blood Sugar Have To Be To Have A Stroke?
The study found that individuals that were admitted to the hospital with A1C levels above the 6.8-7.0% range were at an increased risk of undergoing a vascular event such as a heart attack or a repeat stroke.
After carrying out adjustments to factors such as age and gender, researchers found that the participants’ risk of undergoing a heart attack or similar vascular diseases was 27% greater when they were in the hospital with an A1C level above 7.0% in comparison with those who were in the hospital with an A1C level below 6.5%. In addition, the participants’ risk of undergoing a repeat stroke was 28% greater when they were in the hospital with A1C levels above 7.0% in comparison with those who were in the hospital with A1C levels below 6.5%.
The researchers concluded that their findings highlighted the need of keeping a close eye on blood sugar levels if you have diabetes and have had a stroke.
On A Final Note
Despite the study’s limitation of measuring the participants’ blood sugar levels only at the commencement of the study, with no available follow-up levels, it can be concluded that to prevent repeat strokes or a heart attack in those with high blood sugar levels, the A1C score needs to be below 7.0%.
