Why People with Diabetes Are at Higher Risk of Heart Failure

Key mechanisms

• Chronic high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia), lipid abnormalities and insulin resistance contribute to dysfunction of the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels), smooth-muscle cells and platelets. These changes predispose to atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of arteries) and thrombus (clot) formation.

• In people with diabetes, long–term elevated blood-glucose levels damage the blood vessels. This leads to hardened arteries, impaired blood supply to the heart muscle, and increased blood pressure—factors which together increase the workload for the heart and gradually lead to its functional decline.

• Elevated glucose levels also damage the autonomic nerves that regulate heart rhythm and cardiac function. This nerve damage can affect heart-rate control and cardiac reserve, further pushing the heart toward failure.

Why this matters

When the heart cannot pump effectively, it leads to heart failure—a major cause of morbidity and mortality. For people with diabetes, managing not just the glucose but also blood pressure, lipids, weight, and lifestyle is critical.

Practical prevention tips

• Regular check-ups and adherence to diabetes medications as advised by a physician.

• Balanced diet: emphasise lean protein and green vegetables; limit processed meats, fried foods and excess oils

• Manage risk factors: blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. Get enough sleep, reduce stress, avoid alcohol and smoking, and engage in regular physical activity.

Advanced Monitoring for Better Diabetes Management

Understanding the serious cardiovascular risks associated with diabetes underscores the importance of continuous, real-time monitoring of glucose levels. That’s where the Bubble ecosystem comes in.

What is the Bubble Smart Reader?

The Bubble Smart Reader (also referred to as Bubble CGM or Bubble Libre) is a smart continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device designed to help people with diabetes stay ahead of changes in their glucose levels.

Here are key ways it supports better diabetes management and safety:

• It provides real-time glucose monitoring, allowing users to see their glucose trends continuously rather than relying solely on intermittent finger-stick checks.

• It triggers a real-time glucose alert when levels drop too low, giving an early warning that supports timely interventions—critical for preventing severe hypoglycaemia and its consequences.

• When paired with the open-source platform NightScout, the Bubble Smart Reader enables parents or caregivers of children (and adults) to receive live updates and alerts about glucose data—even when they are not physically nearby. This is especially valuable for “CGM for kids” scenarios, giving peace of mind when children are at school, away from caregivers, or sleeping.

How this technology improves daily life

• Enhanced safety and early detection: With automatic alerts on low-glucose events, the Bubble Smart Reader helps avoid dangerous hypoglycaemia and supports cardiovascular health by maintaining optimal glucose levels.

• Improved freedom and flexibility: Users can go about their daily lives—work, exercise, sleep—while the CGM runs in the background, tracking glucose continuously and alerting when intervention is needed.

• Peace of mind for families: For caregivers of younger users (or older adults), pairing the Bubble Smart Reader with NightScout means remote monitoring is possible. Parents receive glucose data in real time, can respond to alerts promptly, and reduce anxiety about “what’s happening when I’m not there.”

• Better long-term health management: Continuous data helps users and their healthcare providers identify patterns—such as frequent lows overnight or post-meal spikes—and make informed adjustments to diet, activity and treatment. That proactive approach supports better cardiovascular outcomes, aligning with the advice to control glucose and other risk factors (blood pressure, lipids) to prevent heart failure.