What Are The Complications Of Acromegaly?

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a disease where the pancreas makes less insulin than it should, or no insulin at all. Diabetes can also happen when the pancreas does produce insulin, but the insulin does not function as it should. Without properly functioning insulin, the glucose in the blood that comes from the consumed food cannot enter the cells to synthesize into cellular energy. This impairment results in rising levels of glucose and less cellular energy around the body. The excess growth hormone produced in individuals affected by acromegaly causes them to become less sensitive to the insulin their pancreas produces. The abnormal amount of growth hormones also decrease the amount of glucose uptake from adipose or fatty tissues and muscles. The high growth hormone levels also change the functioning of beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. These metabolic abnormalities stop the body from being able to maintain glucose homeostasis the way it should. When an individual is unable to maintain blood sugar homeostasis, diabetes mellitus can develop.

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Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the heart muscle where it has a difficult time pumping blood to the rest of the body. There are three main types of cardiomyopathy: dilated, restrictive, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Individuals with acromegaly often develop cardiomyopathy as a complication of their disorder. This association occurs because of the effect that excess hormones have on the cardiomyocytes or muscle cells of the heart. The cells can be displaced and develop functional and structural irregularities of the heart muscle. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the variation seen the most in individuals with acromegaly. This form of cardiomyopathy is when the heart muscle thickens on inside but does not cause an overall enlargement of the hollow muscle. This interior thickening diminishes the heart's total blood capacity. The result of this decreased capacity is an increase in heart rate and an increase in the output of blood upon contraction of the heart. When acromegaly precipitated cardiomyopathy is left untreated, it usually results in heart failure.

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