Diabetes Alters Heart Structure, Increasing Failure Risk

Type 2 diabetes doesn’t just raise heart disease risk—it physically rewires the heart, turning its muscle into a fibrous, energy-starved organ.

A recent analysis of donated human heart tissue reveals that diabetes disrupts energy production, weakens muscle structure, and causes fibrosis in cardiac tissue.

Researchers examined tissue from transplant recipients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, the leading cause of heart failure, and compared it to samples from healthy donors.

They found that diabetes reduces insulin sensitivity in heart muscle cells, impairing glucose transport and stressing mitochondria—the cell’s energy factories.

This metabolic disruption correlates with reduced levels of proteins critical for muscle contraction and calcium regulation, as confirmed by RNA sequencing.

Dr. Benjamin Hunter said:

"We've long seen a correlation between heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but this is the first research to jointly look at diabetes and ischemia heart disease and uncover a unique molecular profile in people with both conditions."

Associate Professor Sean Lal added:

"Our research links heart disease and diabetes in ways that have never been demonstrated in humans, offering new insights into potential treatment strategies."

The study does not provide clinical guidance. Findings are based on post-mortem tissue analysis and animal models, emphasizing the need for further research to translate these molecular insights into therapeutic applications.

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