Review
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World J Diabetes. Oct 15, 2013; 4(5): 177-189
Published online Oct 15, 2013. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v4.i5.177
Diabetic cardiomyopathy: Pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation and management
Joseph M Pappachan, George I Varughese, Rajagopalan Sriraman, Ganesan Arunagirinathan
Joseph M Pappachan, George I Varughese, Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6QG, United Kingdom
Rajagopalan Sriraman, Department of Endocrinology, Lincoln County Hospital, Lincoln LN2 5QY, United Kingdom
Ganesan Arunagirinathan, Department of Endocrinology, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Pappachan JM and Arunagirinathan G conceived the idea and wrote the initial draft of the paper; all authors contributed to literature search and final preparation of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Joseph M Pappachan, MD, MRCP, Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Princes Road, Stoke on Trent ST4 6QG, United Kingdom. drpappachan@yahoo.co.in
Telephone: +44-1782-715444 Fax: +44-1782-674650
Received: April 26, 2013
Revised: August 9, 2013
Accepted: August 16, 2013
Published online: October 15, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: Cardiovascular disease accounts for most of the diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. Coronary artery disease (CAD), cardiac autonomic neuropathy and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DbCM) are the direct cardiac complications of diabetes. Heart failure risk is two to five times higher in diabetics than in nondiabetics. DbCM is a common, but often unrecognized, complication of diabetic heart disease. Diabetes-induced hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and inflammation cause damage to the myocardial tissues that result in DbCM. Transmitral Doppler Echocardiography, tissue Doppler Imaging and cardiac Magnetic resonance imaging are used for diagnosis of DbCM. Management of DbCM should target healthy lifestyle, prompt control of diabetes and dyslipidemia, and treatment of hypertension and CAD, if coexistent.