With diabetes, the risk of heart disease increases. That’s why people with diabetes may need some tests to check the condition of their heart. They help doctors check for red flags in the patient’s heart and help them find the most appropriate treatment for the patient.
Blood pressure test
This is a painless test that uses a special instrument to measure the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels. If high blood pressure is not controlled, patients can develop health problems such as:
Stroke
myocardial infarction
Heart failure
Renal failure
Carotid ultrasound
The instrument emits high-frequency sound waves that help doctors examine a patient’s major carotid arteries, which are called carotid arteries. The doctor is thus able to see if the patient has any narrowing of the arteries due to plaque (fat deposits).
Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) and calcium scoring
This imaging test can reveal calcium deposits in the patient’s cardiovascular system. More calcium means more severe coronary atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries). The doctor then uses the test results to project the patient’s probability of developing heart disease.
Electrocardiogram
This test detects the electrical activity of a patient’s heart. From this, doctors can diagnose whether a patient has:
An abnormal heart rhythm
A larger-than-normal heart
Low blood flow
Heart disease
An ambulatory electrocardiogram (Holter cardiac ambulatory monitor)
This test measures the electrical activity of the heart during a patient’s regular daily activities.
Echocardiography
It uses ultrasound to allow the physician to see a graphic outline of the patient’s heart chambers and their motion. From this, the doctor can determine the structure and motion of the patient’s heart, the thickness of the heart muscles, and whether the heart is pumping blood properly.
Exercise load testing
This is a treadmill test that helps doctors determine how much blood is flowing to the heart muscle when the patient’s heart is loaded (such as when exercising). Patients can also learn if they have less blood flow in the arteries that deliver blood to the heart muscle. Doctors can use this information to determine an exercise intensity that is safe for the patient.
Coronary angiography
This procedure, also known as cardiac catheterization, helps doctors check the condition of a patient’s blocked artery and the severity of the blockage.