Circadian rhythm of heart rate regulation in diabetes

Resting heart rate is the strongest predictor of mortality in patients with cardiac disease. Incompetence in heart rate regulation is an undervalued feature of the diabetic heart with major cardiovascular consequences. Heart rate fluctuates in a circadian manner, and people with diabetes tend to have disturbed circadian profiles of heart rate. However, the underlying mechanisms of the circadian rhythm in heart rate have been debated. The fluctuations can occur either because control of the heart by central nerves (autonomic) or the pacemaker cells within the heart varies their activity (intrinsic). Therefore, the aim of this PhD is to measure whether changes in autonomic control and/or intrinsic regulation is responsible for the disturbed circadian rhythm of heart rate in diabetes. We will address this question using recordings of autonomic nerve activity, isolated heart studies, and molecular biology techniques in a type 2 diabetic animal model.
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