Adolescent High Blood Sugar Significantly Increases Risk of Early Heart Damage

Recent research highlights the critical impact of elevated blood sugar levels during adolescence on long-term heart health. A comprehensive 7-year study involving 1,595 young individuals from the prestigious ALSPAC cohort reveals that persistent high blood glucose and insulin resistance during teenage years substantially contribute to early structural and functional heart damage. Notably, adolescents with fasting blood sugar levels at or above the prediabetes threshold exhibited a nearly threefold higher risk of developing left ventricular hypertrophy, a condition characterized by abnormal heart enlargement. Alarmingly, females appeared more vulnerable, with high blood sugar accelerating cardiac deterioration five times faster than in males.

The study, conducted through international collaboration among the University of Eastern Finland, Baylor College of Medicine, and other leading institutions, emphasizes that even healthy-looking adolescents and young adults may be on a trajectory toward cardiovascular disease if they experience elevated blood glucose and insulin resistance.

Key findings indicate that the prevalence of both heart enlargement and dysfunction increased markedly with age—left ventricular hypertrophy rose from 2.4% at age 17 to 7.1% at age 24, while heart functional issues grew from 9.2% to 15.8%. Persistent fasting blood sugar levels above 5.6 mmol/L were linked to a 46% increased risk of heart enlargement, with even higher risk at levels surpassing 6.1 mmol/L.

Moreover, insulin resistance was associated with increased cardiac mass and was partly explained by greater overall body fat. This suggests a bidirectional relationship where lifestyle behaviors, diet, and body composition influence the progression of heart damage.

The study underscores the importance of early lifestyle interventions, especially during late adolescence, to prevent the onset and worsening of cardiometabolic diseases. It highlights that delaying the onset of diagnosed type 2 diabetes and managing blood glucose levels in youth can significantly impact long-term heart health, particularly for females who seem disproportionately affected.

Overall, these findings stress the need for regular screening and preventive strategies aimed at maintaining healthy blood glucose levels well before adulthood, to curb the rising tide of early cardiac disease.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-high-blood-sugar-adolescence-triples.html