Letter from the SELA President: What are Cardiometabolic Disorders?

Dr. Google, referencing ACC, tells us that cardiometabolic disorders represent a cluster of interrelated risk factors, primarily hypertension, elevated fasting blood sugar, dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, and elevated triglycerides.

Examples of the disease include heart attack, stroke, diabetes, insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and chronic kidney disease.

Being a member of the NLA since 2001, I have witnessed multiple editions and LipidSpin issues on the cardiometabolic patient. The metamorphosis of names over the years has not lessened the prevalence of the disease. Insulin resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, Pre-diabetes; all reference this cardiometabolic process in the body. Despite all the information published, the U.S. continues to be in a cardiometabolic epidemic.

Our theme, Diabesity, once again, reiterates the importance of recognizing and treating the cardiometabolic patient. As mentioned previously, there is a multisystem awareness to this disorder. Heart. Endocrine. Kidneys. Liver. Adipose Tissue. This means a multispecialty team approach is required to adequately treat the patient. That being said, the NLA is the ideal organization to focus on Diabesity with our interdisciplinary team approach.

Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, dieticians, and exercise physiologists; we all play an equally pivotal role in achieving outcomes for our clients.

Our goal in this issue is to have “a little something for everyone” on the team to effectively manage patients, to curb the epidemic. Using a team-based approach and covering all aspects of care can decrease the disease contributing to the epidemic.

I am honored to be a part of the team, a part of NLA, and to serve as the SELA president. Most of all, I am thankful to all of those before me for their guidance, advice, and mentorship. I truly believe that the NLA is the most integrated organization that allows anyone to be as active as they would like. This, in turn, magnifies the impact of making things happen.

Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

Thank you for this opportunity and enjoy this LipidSpin issue.