Diabetes is a disease that comes with many potential complications, one of them being cardiovascular disease. But, it is possible to prevent heart problems if you take care of yourself.
The Risk Factors
When you know what can increase the likelihood of developing heart disease, you can start working on correcting the causes. Some of the most common risks include:
- family history of heart attack and stroke
- smoking
- sedentary lifestyle
Of course, there are other factors that diabetics should keep in mind. These are also issues that can occur concurrently with one another. Let’s take a look.
High Blood Sugar
Elevated glucose levels make your blood platelets stickier than normal. This increases the potential for clots and thrombosis in the coronary arteries.
Obesity
Being overweight and obese increases insulin resistance and is a risk factor for developing heart issues. In particular, belly fat is what you should be on the lookout. Fat puts pressure on your heart and lungs and reduces your ability to stay active.
High Cholesterol
A perfect storm of low HDL levels, high LDL levels, and high triglycerides is often associated with coronary heart problems. It’s also associated with another condition called atherogenic dyslipidemia which is linked to insulin insensitivity.
High Blood Pressure
This makes your heart work harder to pump blood, thus putting a strain on this most vital organ. High blood pressure also increases your risk of a heart attack, stroke, eye, and kidney damage. There is a positive correlation between insulin resistance and increased blood pressure.
Controlling for the Risks
Thankfully, these potential risks of cardiovascular disease can be treated and prevented. Consider visiting your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. Your doctor may also be able to prescribe medications to keep these factors under control. It’s also important to get plenty of exercises, limit carb consumption, and stop smoking.
[expand title=”References“]
Cardiovascular Disease & Diabetes. URL Link. Accessed July 23, 2017.
Understanding the Hidden Dangers of Diabetes. URL Link. Accessed July 23, 2017.
Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke. URL Link. Accessed July 23, 2017.
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