Diabetes and Heart Disease

If you have diabetes, you are two to four times more likely to have heart disease than someone without diabetes. This is because most people with diabetes also have the main risk factors for heart disease. But there's good news. You can help control your health risks by making some changes in your life.

Your healthcare team will develop a treatment plan that works best for you.

Your Main Risk Factors

Three major risk factors for heart disease are high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high levels of lipids. By keeping risk factors under control, you can help keep your heart and arteries healthy. This may reduce your chances of a heart attack.

• Blood sugar. High blood sugar can make artery walls rough. Plaque (waxy material in the blood) can then build up, making it harder for blood to flow through the arteries. And having high blood sugar makes you more likely to have high blood pressure and high levels of lipids.

• Blood pressure. When blood pressure is high all the time, artery walls become damaged. Plaque is more likely to build up.

• Lipids. The body needs some lipids in the blood to stay healthy. But lipid levels that are too high can damage the artery walls. Lipids include cholesterol and triglycerides. There are two kinds of cholesterol. LDL ("bad") cholesterol can damage the arteries. But HDL ("good") cholesterol helps clear LDL cholesterol from the blood. This helps keep the arteries healthy. When blood sugar is high, the level of triglycerides in the blood may also be high. High blood triglyceride levels can cause plaque to form. 

Other Risk Factors

Certain lifestyle factors can increase levels of your blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipids. Such increases raise your risk of heart disease.

• Smoking damages the lining of your arteries. This allows plaque to build up in the artery walls. Smoking also constricts (narrows) the arteries, which can raise blood pressure.

• Not being active makes it harder for your heart to do its work. Inactivity is linked to many other risk factors, such as high blood pressure and poor cholesterol levels.

• Being overweight makes it harder for your body to use insulin. It also makes your heart work too hard. 

Changes You Can Make

Take your medications as directed each day, even if you feel fine.

Following a few simple steps can help keep your risk factors under control. Work with your healthcare team to reach your goals.

• Quitting smoking could save your life. Smoking damages the lining of the blood vessels and raises blood pressure. Smoking also affects how your body uses insulin. This makes it harder to keep blood sugar under control. If you smoke and need help quitting, talk to your healthcare team.

• Testing your blood sugar  is the only way to know whether it is under control. Be sure to test your blood sugar yourself. Also get your blood tested in the lab, as directed.

• Monitoring your blood pressure and lipid levels can help you achieve safe levels. Visit your healthcare team as scheduled.

• Taking medications as directed can help control blood sugar, blood pressure, blood clotting, and/or cholesterol levels.

• Eating right can reduce your risk factors and help you lose weight. Try to limit the amount of carbohydrates you eat at one time. Eat foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Eat fiber, including vegetables and whole grains. And cut down on salt. A dietitian or diabetes educator can help form a meal plan that works for you.

• Being active can help reduce your weight, strengthen your heart, and lower your lipid levels and blood pressure. Exercise and activity are good for your whole body. Talk to your healthcare team about increasing your activity safely over time.

• Keeping your appointments with your healthcare provider helps you stay healthy. Go in for checkups and lab tests as scheduled.