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The contribution of a special Diabetes and Lipids Primary Care Unit to the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke in diabetic patients

Adamantios BOURDAKIS, Stamatis PAPADATOS, Zabras SOTIRIS and Bourdaki DESPOINA

Secondary stroke prevention can reduce the risk of recurrent stroke by 90%. Special primary care units enhance the prospect of secondary prevention in diabetics. To assess the contribution of our diabetes- lipid unit to the secondary stroke prevention in diabetics with a first-ever ischemic stroke two years after the event. All the patients included in the survey (N=65) were under medical supervision in our diabetes- lipid unit every three months for at least two years. 35 diabetic men and 30 diabetic women who suffered a first-ever ischemic stroke were included in the survey. Patients with AF, CAD, HF(NYHA>2) and smokers were excluded. BMI, HBA1c, LDL and TG were always tested and interventions were made accordingly. Finally, we checked who of these patients had a second event in a two-year period after the first one.Among the diabetic men, 82.9% had high LDL, 51.4% had high TG and only 14.2% had a normal BMI. After two years of therapy 71.4% achieved the LDL goal, 94.2% the TG goal, 40% had desirable HBA1c, yet 22.9% increased their BMI. Among the diabetic women, 90% had high LDL, 30% had high TG and only 6.7% had a normal BMI. After two years of therapy 60% achieved the LDL goal, 100% the TG goal, 73.3% had desirable HBA1c, yet 16.7% increased their BMI. After two years of therapy  at our Special diabetes-lipid primary care unit only 5/35 men and 4/30 women had  had a second cerebral ischemic event.Special diabetes-lipid primary care units contribute to the close monitoring of risk factors and therefore avoidance of recurrent stroke