Diabetic Heart Disease
 Doctor Bennett Franjic
Role of Autonomic Neuropathy in Diabetic Heart Disease
Hypothesis
Autonomic dysfunction is an important contributor to subclinical diabetic myocardial disease (DMD) and is responsive to lifestyle intervention.
Significance
Approximately 25% of apparently healthy patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have DMD, as evidenced by abnormal tissue Doppler and deformation imaging. This may be an important contributor to the propensity of patients with T2DM to develop heart failure, independent of the role of hypertension and coronary artery disease.
Aim
To show an association between DMD and cardiac autonomic dysfunction (demonstrated by nuclear imaging techniques). We also aim to show if these parameters respond to intensive lifestyle interventions designed to improve insulin sensitivity.
Goals for 2008
To show the relationship between DMD and abnormal autonomic function (including cardiac sympathetic innervation) and to initiate a lifestyle intervention program.
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