Diabetic Heart Disease: Is Angioplasty or Medications Better Treatment?

If you’re a diabetic with heart disease, don’t be too quick to sign up for an angioplasty. According to a new study, the best heart disease treatment for diabetics may be an old standby – medications. Heart disease in diabetics is the most common cause of death, but an angioplasty may not be needed in every case. In some situations, medications to lower blood pressure and take the load off of the heart may be a better option.

What’s the Best Option?

For years, some doctors have encouraged diabetics with heart disease to undergo angioplasty to open up their clogged arteries. Angioplasty is a costly procedure that involves using a balloon to open up blocked coronaries. Although the procedure is generally regarded as safe, there is a two percent mortality rate and up to a five percent risk of heart attack during or after the surgery. Sometimes the artery closes off during the procedure, making it necessary to do bypass surgery.

According to this study, heart disease in diabetics can be treated just as effectively with medications as long as the degree of disease is mild to moderate. Many doctors and patients looking for a “quick fix” push for an angioplasty procedure as treatment for diabetic heart disease, but with the risk of heart attack being up to one in twenty, the procedure is not risk free. Diabetics may be at a higher risk of complications particularly if they have underlying diabetic kidney disease or other diabetes related complications. People who are older, women, and those with other underlying medical problems may be at especially high risk.

Medications

Fortunately, there are a number of medications available to treat heart disease in diabetics. Statins are often used to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the overall risk of heart attack. A group of medications called ACE inhibitors help to reduce blood pressure as well as treat heart disease in diabetics. The type of medications used varies depending upon the individual, but this study suggests that with the right combination of medications, the risk of heart attack and heart related death can be reduced as much with medications as with angioplasty.

The Bottom Line?

If you have severe heart disease, angioplasty may still be the best option, but if your diabetic heart disease is only mild to moderate, using medications to treat your symptoms may be safe and effective. Talk to your doctor about which option is best for you.