Diabetes and Heart Health - How They are Related?

Why should people with diabetes be extra careful of their Heart Health? What’s the connection? Diabetes is considered as one of the major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. 

A Study conducted shows that around 65% of diabetic patients die from heart disease or stroke. The connection between diabetes and heart disease starts with high blood sugar levels. With continued high blood sugar levels i.e. high glucose in the bloodstream, the arteries gets damaged and become hard and stiff. Fatty material that builds up on the inside of these blood vessels can eventually block blood flow to the heart or brain, leading to a possible heart attack or stroke.

People with the below listed condition and lifestyle are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD)

1. High blood pressure(hypertension)
2. Abnormal cholesterol
3. Obesity
4. Lack of physical activity
5. Poorly controlled blood sugars(too high) or out of normal range
6. Regular Smoking

What is a Diabetes?
It's is a disorder in which your body doesn’t produce insulin in the required quantity because of too much sugar in the blood or high blood glucose. 

Symptoms
Frequent urination, Intense thirst and hunger, Weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, male sexual dysfunction, vaginal Infection in females, numbness, tingling in hands and feet. 

Connection with Heart related diseases i.e. What can diabetes do to the person's healthy heart?

1. A diabetic who has had a previous heart attack has a much greater risk of having another.
2. Diabetics develop cardiovascular disease at a much earlier age than others.
3. Diabetics who have suffered a heart attack are more apt to die as a result. 

Prevention: More of a lifestyle change followed by medication under supervision of a doctor and a nutritionist is possible. The best way to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease is to prevent diabetes itself. General nutrition recommendations:

1. Control your portion size
2. Limit your consumption of saturated and transfats and cholesterol
3. Setting reasonable goals for your total amount of carbohydrates.

There is no certain way to avoid heart disease and circulation problems, but there are lot of things to do to cut your risk.

1. You smoke? Put a full stop.
2. Do weight management and lose some extra pounds.
3. Check your sugar levels regularly and keep your blood pressure in the proper range.
4. Get regular physical activity
5. Keep your blood fats and cholesterol levels in a healthy range.
6. Keep your blood glucose under control live a healthy life with a healthy heart. Stay Healthy! If you wish to discuss any specific problem, you can consult a general physician.