Search our website Find job opportunies at THI and St. Luke's Find a doctor location and contact information
Heart Information Center
Ask a Heart Doctor
  Back to previous page

 

Help us improve this service.

Your feedback will help guide us in developing this site.

Ask a Texas Heart Institute Doctor 
Informed patients make better patients.

Question:

What can be done to keep 'diabetic' arteries from getting smaller?

My husband is 54, has 7 stents and more blockage. Takes bp, cholesterol and diabetic medicines, all under control. Has been told he will have many more stents, been average of yearly. Has had 1 heart attack when he was 49. Dr. told him his arteries are small due to diabetes. Question: Is there any prevention to keep them from getting smaller? Been told eventually he may not be able to be stented, and bypass surgery may not be a choice either.

submitted by Sherri from Arkansas 11/29/2013

Answer:

by Texas Heart Institute cardiovascular surgeon, Denton A. Cooley, MD  

Denton A. Cooley, MDThere is no known method of enlarging the coronary arteries. Further treatment with stents may be needed, and possibly coronary bypass surgery. 

See also on this site:    

Has your question or a similar one already been answered?
Search all the Heart Doctor questions and answers.

To search for a doctor or access St. Luke's physician referral service, use the "Find a Doctor" link at the top of this page.


Updated December 2013
Top  
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to us on YouTube Find Us on Flicikr Follow Us on Pinterest Add us on Google+ Find us on LinkedIn 

Please contact our Webmaster with questions or comments.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
© Copyright Texas Heart Institute
All rights reserved.