Diabetes and heart health
Diabetes raises the chances you will have heart problems. You can reduce these chances just by doing what everyone else should be doing to protect himself or herself. That means eating well and getting or staying active. Even if you have had a heart attack already, you can do a lot more than just take medicines your doctor prescribes.
What causes heart disease?
There are many problems that your doctor might call heart disease.
Atherosclerosis is when, over time, fat deposits from cholesterol build up on the walls of your arteries. As the fat builds up, less blood is flows through. If the blood to your heart is blocked enough, you have a heart attack. If these fat deposits break loose, the result is a stroke. This is why doctors focus on reducing cholesterol. Learn how to lower your cholesterol.
Diabetes is also more likely to cause heart problems due to damage from high glucose levels and high blood pressure.
Managing A1c levels
A1c is a measure of your blood sugar control over a period of time. Your daily testing for glucose levels will help you manage how well you feel. Regular A1c tests help you know what steps you have to take to keep your blood sugar under control to protect your heart.
Managing blood pressure
Getting and keeping your blood pressure low is specially important for people with diabetes. Your goal should be below 130/80 mmHg. High blood pressure can cause heart and kidney disease. Some people can reduce it with changes in diet or physical activity. Others require medicines. Your doctor or doctors will help you make the best decision for your specific situation. Learn more about controlling high blood pressure.
Managing cholesterol
After you have a blood test to measure your cholesterol levels, your doctor will talk to you about what that test tells you. This chart shows you what most doctors agree are good measures of the scores you get.
| Normal |
less than 150 mg/dL |
| Borderline High |
150-199 mg/dL |
| High |
200-499 mg/dL |
| Very High |
500 mg/dL |
If you have diabetes, lowering cholesterol means making changes in the way you live. Some people reduce it with diet or exercise. Others need medication to reduce cholesterol. Learn more about controlling high cholesterol on this website.
Still using tobacco? Get help.
Everybody needs to stop smoking to protect their hearts. The fact that you have diabetes should give you a little extra push. Your doctor or Priority Health can help you find ways to stop smoking.
Learn more about tobacco and quitting.
