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C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker for inflammation, which can be useful in predicting and treating diabetes. High CRP levels in diabetics increase the risk of cardiovascular complications. A high CRP level can also indicate the onset of type 1 diabetes, and pregnant women with high CRP levels may be at risk for gestational diabetes. Health experts recommend testing for CRP in those at high risk for heart disease.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced or synthesized by the liver and is found in the blood. The level of CRP in the blood rises in direct correlation with the effects of a stressor in the form of inflammation. The connection between CRP and diabetes is that monitoring the rate of CRP production is useful in predicting the onset of diabetes and as a tool to treat the disease more effectively.
Inflammation is a response of body tissue to irritants, activity of disease-causing pathogens, and any type of damage to cells. As such, PCR plays an important role in measuring the progress of a disease. It also helps healthcare professionals evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment. If the patient’s CRP level remains elevated, it indicates that the source of the inflammation continues to trigger the inflammatory response unabated. It is this function as a marker to measure health status that serves as the link between CRP and diabetes.
Diabetes is a lifelong disease that leads to other potentially fatal health consequences if not managed properly. Some of these consequences include cardiovascular complications such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. A highly sensitive C-reactive protein test can help determine if there is a risk for such a complication.
Inflammation can lead to damage to the linings of the arteries causing atherosclerotic plaque to build up, making a heart attack more likely. Diabetics who have particularly high CRP levels are more likely to have heart attacks or strokes than those who have lower CRP levels. They are also more likely to have other cardiovascular events, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery.
Another connection between CRP and diabetes is that a high CRP level could also indicate the onset of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce the necessary amount of insulin to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It is also more frequently diagnosed in children than in adults. Children who develop type 1 diabetes very often have a high CRP level just before the disease occurs. This serves as a kind of indicator of disease progression.
Knowing the association between CRP and diabetes helps healthcare professionals manage the health of pregnant women. Some pregnant women who have high CRP levels during the first trimester may have a higher risk of eventually developing gestational diabetes. If their CRP levels are very high, pregnant women may need to undergo regimens of insulin injections.
People who are at the highest risk of developing heart disease are diabetics, men over the age of 45, women over the age of 55, those who are overweight, and those who are genetically predisposed to heart attacks. People who have high blood pressure are also at risk. Health experts recommend that people who fall into these groups get tested for PCR. The outcome of a CRP test will determine the next course of action a doctor will take.
