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Preventing Cardiovascular Disease: Diabetes Control
If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels within the normal range can significantly reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, stroke, and poor circulation. By effectively managing your diabetes, you can lower your cardiovascular risk and improve your overall health and wellbeing.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood rises above and falls below the normal level. This happens because your body either does not produce enough insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas) or the cells do not respond to insulin correctly. Insulin is important because it helps glucose enter the body's cells, where it is used as fuel for energy.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes: this is a chronic condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, although it can develop in adulthood as well. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin to manage their blood sugar levels.
- Type 2 diabetes: this type of diabetes is known as adult-onset diabetes; however, the condition can also develop during childhood and adolescence. The main risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Unlike type 1, type 2 diabetes can sometimes be managed or even go into remission by managing the condition effectively and leading a healthy lifestyle.
How does diabetes affect cardiovascular health?
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are closely linked to cardiovascular disease. When blood sugar levels remain high over a long period of time, it can contribute to the buildup of fatty material within the blood vessels, causing them to narrow. High blood pressure forces your heart to work harder to pump blood throughout your body, which can weaken the heart and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke compared to people without diabetes. Additionally, people with type 2 diabetes often experience other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity, all of which contribute to cardiovascular risk.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. While gestational diabetes typically resolves when the pregnancy ends, women who have had gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. They are also more likely to experience cardiovascular problems compared to women who did not have gestational diabetes.
How can lifestyle changes support diabetes management & cardiovascular health?
If you have diabetes, it is important to work closely with your healthcare team to manage your blood sugar levels. Regular check-ups can help you keep your diabetes under control and prevent complications that can affect your heart and overall health.
There are several lifestyle changes that can have a positive impact on both your diabetes management and your cardiovascular health:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet: focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Limiting processed foods and sugary snacks can help you control your blood sugar levels and reduce your risk of heart disease.
- Maintain a healthy weight: being overweight can make it harder to control blood sugar levels and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Even modest weight loss can have significant benefits for your health.
- Be physically active: regular exercise helps improve blood sugar control, reduce cholesterol, and lower blood pressure. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.
- Manage your cholesterol and blood pressure: high cholesterol and high blood pressure are common in people with diabetes and contribute to heart disease. Monitoring and controlling these levels are essential for heart health.
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption: smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. If you smoke, consider quitting, and try to limit alcohol intake.
Through lifestyle changes and effective monitoring of your diabetes and, you can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Remember, even if you feel well, it is important to have your diabetes checked regularly by your GP or diabetes care team.
Goals to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease (pdf) | 783KB.jpg?sfvrsn=ca53d7a8_1)
