Why Is Aspirin Prescribed to Diabetics?

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I have to orient a nurse who came from the emergency room to our clinic tomorrow. I am going over diabetic teaching, and I am trying to find the answer to why diabetics are prescribed aspirin. My literature is not telling me (or I am too sleepy to see it at this time). I think I remember them saying that it thins the blood for passage through the arteries, and this would make sense, to help decrease the blood pressure, but I am not clear. I wish to review the reasons why patients are getting some of the medications prescribed by the diabetic protocol.

Any assistance would be great!

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Specializes in SNF.

Thinning the blood for passage through the arteries was what I was thinking and that diabetics are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, so whatever prophylactics we can give would be helpful.

:twocents:

Teresa

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Thinning the blood for passage through the arteries was what I was thinking and that diabetics are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, so whatever prophylactics we can give would be helpful.

:twocents:

Teresa

I appreciate your response. I wanted something short and simple to explain tomorrow. Thanks!:nurse:

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

what came to my mind was how diabetics don't have good circulation in the feet so thinning the blood would help with that but perhaps I'm wrong? Correct me please because I'm still learning. Thanks :)

Just googled it and Teresa is right.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

I haven't seen aspirin automatically prescribed to diabetics, is it routinely done in the US? I can see the reasoning due to the risk of heart disease, but how advanced would one have to be before it was considered...

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I haven't seen aspirin automatically prescribed to diabetics, is it routinely done in the US? I can see the reasoning due to the risk of heart disease, but how advanced would one have to be before it was considered...

I would wonder about that as well, because not all of them are prescribed aspirin when diagnosed. I wonder what or when in the process that decision is actually made. I do see that many are prescribed aspirin, an ace inhibitor or maybe losartan, I also see statin drugs (but of course, the LDL is high).

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

We follow something called NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidlines when it comes to diabetes management and reduction of risk factors.

NICE

If you have a look at page 51 there is a discussion about the appropriate use of aspirin in diabetes

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
We follow something called NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidlines when it comes to diabetes management and reduction of risk factors.

NICE

If you have a look at page 51 there is a discussion about the appropriate use of aspirin in diabetes

Thanks Sharrie. I have saved that document. Very succinct and informative...

Jay

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

ASA is a platelet aggregation inhibitor. Since diabetics have a higher risk of endothelial damage related to their high CBGs, then a platelet aggregation inhibitor would reduce the risk of thrombus formation.

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.
ASA is a platelet aggregation inhibitor. Since diabetics have a higher risk of endothelial damage related to their high CBGs, then a platelet aggregation inhibitor would reduce the risk of thrombus formation.

Nancy is right on it; I'm going to assume that doctors assess the patient's cardiac risk before prescribing ASA, but many will meet the criteria for it. As you already know, diabetics usually have other comorbidities and are often on a laundry list of meds for cardiovascular issues.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

In the US, ASA is prescribed either as a primary or secondary preventative Tx for MI or stroke. Primary would be:

family hx of CAD, smoking, HTN, overweight, elevated urine albumin, hyperlipidemia, and age >30.

Secondary would be:

Hx of MI, stroke/TIA, PVD, claudication, angina, and CABG hx

Of course, you'll want to warn them to consult with their physician before starting ASA thx if they have asthma (higher risk of ASA allergy), or if their BP is > 180/110.

Here is another link to some excellent DM patient ed resources:

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_heart/

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to corroborate with the other posters:

Diabetes...An Aspirin A Day

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16423

"People with diabetes have a two to four fold increase in the risk for dying from heart disease..."

leslie

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