Diabetes and metabolic health Archive

A high calcium result often turns up on a routine lab test. Possible causes range from overactive parathyroid glands to excess vitamin D.

Tendonitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder, and Charcot joint can all strike people with diabetes. They mimic arthritis but have different causes.

Elevated blood iron can result from supplements, genetic disorders, liver disease, or transfusions. Learn what doctors check next and common ways to reduce it.

The latest diabetes guidelines now recommend continuous glucose monitors for many people with type 2 diabetes. The real-time data from these devices may help reduce heart-related risks in people with diabetes by helping to reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and body weight.

Five numbers give a thumbnail assessment of overall heart health and what factors people might need to address to lower the risk of a heart attack or stroke. These numbers offer ideal goals for most people, although targets vary for individuals based on age or other health conditions.

A 2026 study found that sleeping 7.3 hours on weeknights may be associated with better blood sugar regulation by improving insulin sensitivity—how efficiently cells respond to insulin and absorb sugar from the bloodstream.

Pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia—marked by high blood pressure that can impair organ function and affect blood vessels—are increasingly tied to higher lifetime cardiovascular risks. Women with these complications face greater odds of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.

The thyroid gland releases hormones that affect the heart. Too little thyroid hormone slows the heart rate and may boost blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while too much can trigger abnormal heart rhythms and high blood pressure.

People consume too much added sugar — extra amounts that food manufacturers add to products to increase flavor and extend shelf life — which can have a serious impact on heart health.

Unexplained weight loss, frequent hunger, and feeling shaky or ill between meals may signal blood sugar swings that deserve a closer look.