Stroke and Diabetes

Stroke happens either when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut of because of a blood clot or when a brain artery ruptures and leads to a haemorrhage.

World Stroke Campaign / Prevent Stroke / Stroke and Diabetes

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, but most strokes can be prevented by addressing a small number of key risk factors.

1 in 5 people who have a stroke are diabetic and people with diabetes have poorer outcomes from stroke compared with the rest of the population.

Stroke and diabetes share many risk factors, most of which can be addressed with lifestyle changes and/or medication. This page provides information about the links between diabetes and stroke and about the steps to take to reduce your risk.

What is diabetes?

When you have diabetes your pancreas either stops producing insulin, or the insulin it produces doesn’t work properly. Your body uses insulin to convert the sugar (glucose) in your blood to energy. There are two types of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes develops when your body stops producing insulin and glucose builds up in your bloodstream. Type 1 diabetes usually begins in childhood or adolescence.

Type 2 diabetes develops when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or your body doesn’t react to it in the right way. Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1 and tends to develop in adulthood.

Another kind of diabetes called gestational diabetes can afect pregnant women. It usually goes away after childbirth but can increase a woman’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Why does diabetes increase stroke risk?

Diabetes contributes to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which increases the risk of blood clot or a ruptured blood vessel. People with diabetes are also likely to experience a number of additional stroke risk factors including obesity, poor diet, inactivity, high cholesterol.

How do I know if I have diabetes?

Many people with Type 2 diabetes won’t know they are diabetic as the condition usually gets worse over time. Diabetes is often identifed through blood or urine tests. You should ask your health provider for a test if you have any of the risk factors for diabetes, stroke or cardiovascular disease, or if you have any of the symptoms of diabetes.