Stroke is a life-threatening event in which a part of the brain is deprived of sufficient oxygen. Also called a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), stroke affects about 700,000 Americans each year. Individuals with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have a stroke than nondiabetics, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There are two kinds of stroke:

• Ischemic strokes typically occur when a blood clot blocks an artery leading to the brain. The clot can either form inside the artery (a thrombus) due to atherosclerosis (when excess plaque forms on the inner arterial walls), or it can become lodged inside the artery as it travels through the bloodstream (an embolus). These types of stroke are called thrombotic stroke and embolic stroke, respectively.
  
  
• Hemorrhagic strokes usually occur when blood from the arteries leaks into the brain after a rupture.

People with diabetes are at increased risk for stroke because excess glucose (blood sugar) or insulin (a hormone that regulates glucose) in the bloodstream can damage the arteries that deliver oxygen to the brain. Individuals with diabetes are also more likely to have high blood pressure, obesity, coronary artery disease and many other risk factors for stroke.

Symptoms can vary depending on which type of stroke occurs. Common symptoms of both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke include confusion, severe headache, nausea or vomiting. Stroke is an emergency that requires immediate medical treatment. Diagnosis typically begins with a prompt review of the patient’s medical history, followed by a CAT scan (computed axial tomography), which helps determine which type of stroke has occurred.

Immediate treatment of stroke involves tasks such as re-establishing blood flow to the brain, maintaining breathing in individuals who are losing consciousness and administering fever-reducing medications. Once the patient is stabilized, the physician will typically order additional tests. Patients often require rehabilitation to minimize neurological damage and maximize function in areas such as movement, speech, swallowing and memory.

Individuals can greatly reduce their risk for stroke by making lifestyle modifications similar to those recommended for preventing and controlling diabetes, such as controlling levels of weight, glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure. Researchers are exploring new methods for treating and preventing strokes.