The heart risks associated with diabetes are well known, but a recent study found that even if your blood glucose levels fall short of the criteria for diabetes, your heart may still be suffering. A study published in the Feb. 2 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that elevated levels of HbA1c, a marker for chronic hyperglycemia and diabetes, were associated with minute levels of protein troponin T, a blood marker for heart damage. It showed that the higher your blood sugar average was, the more heart muscle damage markers you had, says Cleveland Clinic endocrinologist Betul A. Hatipoglu, MD. And adjusted for other risk factors, this study showed that blood sugar alone is a risk factor to damage the heart muscle.
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