Keep Your Heart Healthy
Diabetes and heart disease go hand in hand. If you have diabetes, you’re twice as likely to have heart disease or stroke than someone who doesn’t have diabetes. Heart disease includes several kinds of problems that affect your heart. The most common type is coronary artery disease, which affects the blood flow to the heart.
How Does Diabetes Affect the Heart?
High blood glucose over time can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart. Other conditions that raise your risk for heart disease are:
- High blood pressure
- Too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
- High triglycerides
None of these conditions has symptoms. It’s therefore important that you check your blood pressure and do a simple blood test to monitor your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Factors That Can Raise Your Risk Of Heart Disease
- Not getting enough physical activity
- Eating a diet high in saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium (salt)
- Being overweight or obese
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
How Can I Decrease My Chances of Developing Heart Disease?
You can lower your risk of heart disease and improve your heart health by changing certain lifestyle habits.
- Follow a healthy diet. (Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.)
- Get active.
- Aim for a healthy weight
- Get a regular A1C test
- Keep your Blood Pressure below 140/90 mmHg
- Manage your cholesterol levels
- Manage stress
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