Heart Health

Prediabetes linked to higher risk of cardiovascular problems

Research we're watching

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

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Even slightly elevated blood sugar levels — a condition known as prediabetes — may raise the risk of cardiovascular problems, according to new research.

For the study, researchers looked at the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of 427,435 people from the UK Biobank, a large database of health information in the United Kingdom. HbA1c values represent a person's average blood sugar levels for the previous three months.

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About the Author

photo of Julie Corliss

Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Julie Corliss is the executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter. Before working at Harvard, she was a medical writer and editor at HealthNews, a consumer newsletter affiliated with The New England Journal of Medicine. She … See Full Bio
View all posts by Julie Corliss

About the Reviewer

photo of Christopher P. Cannon, MD

Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Christopher P. Cannon is editor in chief of the Harvard Heart Letter. He is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and senior physician in the Preventive Cardiology section of the Cardiovascular Division at … See Full Bio
View all posts by Christopher P. Cannon, MD

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