Diabetes And Heart Disease

Heart Disease Risk Factor
Can We Control All the Heart Disease Risk Factors?

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Diabetes and Heart Disease: Protecting Your Heart

According to the American Diabetes Association, every two out of three Type II diabetics will die from heart disease or stroke. With a statistic like that, it's important for every diabetic to learn about heart disease and how to protect one's heart. Diabetes is most commonly associated type of heart disease called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis refers to the build up of fatty plaques in the arteries. The arteries become clogged until blood can no longer get through the artery to nourish the heart. At this point, part of the heart dies and a "heart attack" has occurred.

Diabetes and Heart Disease: Why the Connection?

Rheumatic Heart Disease
What is Rheumatic Heart Disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is damage caused to the heart's valves by rheumatic fever.

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Diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops making insulin (Type I) or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin that the pancreas makes (Type II). Insulin is the "key" that allows the body's cells to turn glucose (sugar) into energy. If the glucose is not transformed into energy, it can build up in the body's organs and cause damage. An excess of sugar in the body can cause damage to the heart. Type II diabetes is also highly correlated with other conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity that are related to heart disease.

Diabetes and Heart Disease: Focus on Prevention

If you are diabetic, there are several steps you can take to protect your heart:

Organic Heart Disease
Organic Heart Disease: It' s All About Lifestyle Choices

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First, control your blood-glucose level. Your doctor may help you with this by recommending a special diet or prescribing pills or insulin injections. Most diabetics own a blood glucose monitor and test their blood sugar several times a day. Your doctor may also recommend a blood test called an A-1-C which provides a two to three month history of your blood sugar levels.

It's also important to control your blood pressure and cholesterol. Blood pressure and cholesterol are usually controlled by medication, diet changes (eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and grains and avoiding foods high in saturated fats), and lifestyle changes (such as trying to be more active and less sedentary).

Maintaining a healthy weight is also an important step to controlling both diabetes and heart disease. Many people who struggle with their weight are so frustrated they don't even want to imagine another diet, so don't think in terms of self-denial. You can still eat small amounts of the foods you enjoy as long as you eat healthy foods as well. Also, you don't have to be a size four or even a size ten. Losing even a small percentage of your body weight can be enough to take the strain off your heart and help your body handle insulin more effectively.

If you are diabetic, why not make an appointment to see your doctor and start planning how you can keep your heart in the best possible shape?

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