JP Stroke Foundation

O, Canada. Yes, we invented the phone, basketball, the Java programming language… oh and of course, insulin [1]. Discovered in 1921 by Toronto doctor, Fredrick Banting, insulin is a hormone made in our pancreas, a gland just below the stomach [1,2]. Since we have a sweet tooth for various glucose heavy desserts such as cakes and cookies, the glucose is absorbed into our bloodstream and it is insulin which allows cells throughout our body to create energy [2]. It also helps balance blood glucose levels, or a more common term, blood sugar levels. Insulin allows excess levels of glucose to be stored into our liver for later use of energy production [2]. This excess blood sugar level, or a case more commonly known as diabetes, can lead to very severe health issues, including the increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

It’s interesting, to say the least how common diabetes is across Canada, however the cardiovascular risks, aka the most dangerous risks are disregarded. Diabetes Canada distributed a national poll, and the final statistics showed the following: Less than 50% of Canadians are able to identify the early signs of diabetes and only 33% of Canadians are aware that heart stroke is a complication of diabetes [3]. There is this preconceived notion that diabetes is affiliated with diet and health. Which yes, of course, is true. However, it is not the ONLY affiliation. I cannot tell you the countless number of times my mom or my sister would make deserts for a gathering, only for some adults to say “No thank you, I have diabetes. I will get dizzy and feel unwell… but I will take it anyways”. I mean come on! Usually, people who are willing to take that risk of eating that piece of chocolate cake, for example, experienced short-term diabetic symptoms beforehand. So, this would include, the need to urinate a lot, feeling thirsty and hungry, having blurred vision, or feeling tired. [4] They are uncomfortable experiences but not deathly… however this ongoing cycle of eating high sugar foods and disregarding short-term effects, can lead to severe long-term effects, especially on the heart.

Once the symptoms start to become cardiovascular; such as shortness of breath, chest-pain and overall chest discomfort, that’s when heart stroke comes to play [5]. There is a reason why emergency rooms always prioritize patients who come in complaining about chest pain. It is, in fact a serious, but disregarded issue. Of course, heart stroke is a complication due to many other factors as well, however, diabetes is common especially within many communities in Canada, and not realizing the long-term cardiovascular impacts can truly impact patients and families. Therefore, taking insulin is so important for diabetic patients. Not only is it physiologically controlling blood sugar levels, but it has been said that insulin favours myocardial relaxation. Due to the production of ribosomal proteins, as a by-product of insulin, and other complex biological molecules, cell survival of cardiovascular complications are increased and the complications of heart stroke are eased [6]. Was that too much science? Me too, don’t worry. Long story short, due to the biological molecules and processes insulin is able to synthesize, our heart is able to handle complicated symptoms. So lo and behold, we thank Fredrick Banting, as insulin helps to regulate your blood sugar levels, and in the long run, ease your heart muscles when in extreme discomfort, even when your stubborn self will eat that last Krispy Kreme donut in the box. But hey, you can’t go wrong with the classic glazed donut.

Author: Sumairaa Ahmed

References

1. CBC/Radio Canada. (2017, July 10). 16 amazing things invented by CANADIANS | CBC Television. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/television/16-amazing-things-invented-by-canadians-1.4195223.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 27). Diabetes symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html.
3. Morris, S. Y. (2018, December 21). Insulin and Glucagon: How do they work? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/insulin-and-glucagon.
4. Powderley, K. (2019, April 19). One in three Canadians is living with diabetes or PREDIABETES, yet knowledge of risk and complications of disease remains low. DiabetesCanadaWebsite. https://www.diabetes.ca/media-room/press-releases/one-in-three-canadians-is-living-with-diabetes-or-prediabetes,-yet-knowledge-of-risk-and-complicatio.
5. Risks & signs. Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. (n.d.). https://www.heartandstroke.ca/women/risk-and-signs.
6. T;, I. F. K. N. D. (2011, August). Insulin and the heart. Diabetes research and clinical practice. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21864757/.