Homocysteine & Diabetes Complications
Elevated homocysteine levels increase the risk of nearly every complication associated with diabetes.
Diabetes occurs because there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. High glucose levels can lead to serious health problems over time.
Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. It is also the leading cause of adult blindness, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and leg / foot amputations not caused by injury.
Homocysteine is associated with the major diabetes complications.
Homocysteine and Peripheral Vascular Disease
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a disease of the vessels leading to the feet, legs, arms, and hands due to plaque build-up.
PVD represents a major chronic complication of diabetes and contributes to the high rate of mortality.
Elevated homocysteine levels increases risk of developing peripheral vascular disease.22
Elevated homocysteine levels are a stronger risk factor for peripheral vascular disease in patients with diabetes than those free of the disease.23
The average homocysteine level was significantly higher in patients with peripheral vascular disease compared to control patients.24
Homocysteine and Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic Neuropathy is the medical term for diabetes-induced nerve damage. It affects up to 70% of people with diabetes.25
High glucose causes chemical changes in the nerves that impair their ability to send signals. This nerve damage can lead to pain or numbness in the feet, legs, and hands, as well as slowed digestion of food in the stomach. In severe cases, it can play a role in foot and leg amputations.
Diabetic Neuropathy is the number one cause of non-traumatic amputations in the United States. More than 60% of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the U.S. occur among people with diabetes. Elevated homocysteine increases the risk of developing neuropathy in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
For every 5 µmol/L increase in homocysteine, the risk of developing diabetic neuropathy increased by 151%.25
Homocysteine was the only significant predictor for neuropathy, including classical risk factors for neuropathy.
Homocysteine and Lower Extremity Ulcerations
Diabetic neuropathy with concomitant loss of protective sensation is the most important factor leading to ulceration.*** Approximately 2.4 million people with diabetes will develop lower extremity ulceration. A narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs known as peripheral vascular disease also contributes significantly to the process of ulceration by reducing blood flow to the nerve fibers.
Homocysteine levels have been shown to be elevated in patients with peripheral vascular disease and chronic, non-healing lower-extremity ulcers.26,27
Metanx® provides the distinct nutritional requirements for patients with elevated homocysteine levels. Nutritional management of homocysteine is important for the body's wound healing process.
***Patout AP Jr. etal. Effectiveness of a Comprehensive Diabetes Lower-Extremity Amputation Prevention Program in a Predominantly Low-Income African-American Population Diabetes Care 23:1339-1342;2000.