Managing Blood Sugar After Stroke Could Be Key to Outcomes
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, April 19, 2024 -- Managing a stroke victim’s blood sugar levels after they receive powerful clot-busting drugs might help them survive their health crisis, a new trial finds.
People with high blood sugar levels were more likely to suffer a potentially deadly brain bleed after clot-busters reopened their blocked brain arteries, researchers found.
The risk was particularly high in older patients with more severe strokes.
“These data suggest that more focus and research is needed on the management of high blood sugar in the treatment of stroke patients, particularly those with higher risk, more severe strokes,” said lead researcher Dr. Andrew Southerland, a neurologist with University of Virginia Health in Richmond, Va.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from a clinical trial involving more than 1,100 people, of whom 63% received treatment with clot-busting drugs. About four out of five patients had type 2 diabetes.
About half of those who got clot-buster therapy were randomly assigned to receive intensive insulin treatment afterward, in an attempt to aggressively manage their blood sugar levels.
In general, high blood sugar after clot-busting therapy was associated with a greater risk of a brain bleed, researchers said. And every 10-point increase in average blood sugar increased the odds of a brain bleed by 8%.
Further, patients who reached a lower blood sugar level sooner after receiving clot-busting therapy typically fared better, results show.
However, the specific insulin treatment used in the trial did not make a significant difference in the risk for a brain bleed, researchers said.
The new study was published April 16 in the journal Neurology.
Even though the insulin therapy didn’t work, the results highlight the importance of managing blood sugar levels, researchers said.
“One of the most important things patients can do to decrease their risk of stroke, particularly among diabetics, is work with their doctors and lifestyle to manage their blood sugar,” Southerland said in a university news release.
More research is needed into ways to best manage a patient’s blood sugar after clot-busting therapy, particularly for people who’ve suffered a severe stroke, Southerland said.
“We hope that these results will help inform future clinical trials looking at the treatment of blood sugar in higher risk patients with more severe strokes, particularly those undergoing clot-removal procedures,” Southerland said.
Sources
- University of Virginia, news release, April 18, 2024
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted April 2024
Read this next
AI Implant Allows Stroke Survivor to Communicate in Both Spanish, English
WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- A bilingual brain implant has allowed a stroke survivor to communicate in both Spanish and English, scientists report. Turning to an AI method known as...
Stroke Rates Are Rising, Especially Among the Young
THURSDAY, May 23, 2024 -- The rate at which Americans under the age of 65 suffered a stroke rose by about 15% between 2011 and 2022, new government data shows. That was true even...
Ultra-Processed Foods Could Be Harming Your Brain
THURSDAY, May 22, 2024 -- Ultra-processed foods are bad for more than your waistline: New research shows they seem to raise the risk of stroke and dementia-related memory or...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.
