Summary

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in diabetics. Approximately 70–75% of patients with type 2 (adult onset) diabetes mellitus succumb to cardiovascular disease each year. Diabetes is the most prevalent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and many cardiac patients with known CAD have “prediabetes” or undiagnosed diabetes. In response to these bleak statistics, the American College of Cardiology in collaboration with Alan Brown, M.D., F.A.C.C., the Midwest Heart Foundation, Cardinal Health, and an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer, has developed a program which provides cardiologists and cardiac care team members, providers who often manage these patients at risk, with updated guidelines and treatment protocols for the management and prevention of cardiovascular complications associated with diabetic patients.