From diabetes to heart failure: Does diabetic cardiomyopathy exist?

Introduction: Diabetes and heart failure are two highly prevalent diseases. Since 1972, there have been publications that have demonstrated how patients with diabetes can develop heart failure, independently of the presence of other causes, like coronary disease or hypertension. Objective: To perform a systematic review of the literature on diabetic heart disease. Material and Methods: The PubMed data base was consulted using the MESH terms, diabetes and heart failure, with articles in English and Spanish being finally included. Results: Diabetic heart disease is an illness that occurs due to high blood insulin and glucose levels (hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia). The pathophysiological mechanisms that give rise to it are the metabolic changes in the myocardial cell that lead to oxidation, apoptosis, and necrosis. It can be express as a dilated or restrictive phenotype. The sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors could have beneficial effects in the treatment of the disease. Conclusion: Diabetic heart disease is one of the consequences of poorly controlled diabetes. This relationship between both diseases highlights the importance of adequately treating the diabetes in order to prevent the development of heart failure.