How Is Diabetes Related to Heart Disease?

This article is for people who have type 2 diabetes and are at risk for heart disease, or for anyone who wants to learn more about type 2 diabetes. The goal of this patient education activity is to help you understand how diabetes is related to heart disease and what you can do to lower your risk.

You will learn about:

• How is diabetes linked to heart disease?

• Why it is important to care about heart disease

• Who is at risk for getting heart disease?

• Heart-healthy habits to lower your risk

• Questions to ask your doctor or healthcare provider

 

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Heart disease involves the heart and blood vessels in the body. When blood vessels in the heart become narrow or there is blockage from cholesterol build up, that can result in less blood and oxygen flowing from the heart to the rest of your body.

Risk factors like family history of heart disease, lifestyle, and certain health conditions, like diabetes, can increase a person's chances for getting heart disease. One way that diabetes can lead to heart disease is when blood sugar levels stay too high for a long time, it can damage the heart's blood vessels.

 

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Having heart disease increases the risk for having a heart attack, stroke, and death from heart problems. In some people, it can increase the risk of developing heart failure, another kind of heart disease.

People with diabetes have a higher risk of getting heart disease than people who do not have diabetes. Not only is their risk for getting heart disease doubled, but people with diabetes may get it at a younger age than people who do not have diabetes.

Making positive changes to manage your risk factors can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

 

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There are some risk factors for heart disease that can and cannot be changed. For example, you won't be able to change your age or if a family member had heart disease, but you do have the power to make positive changes for a healthier lifestyle.

Lifestyle-related risk factors that increase the risk for heart disease include:

• Being very overweight (obese)

• Smoking of any kind

• Drinking too much alcohol

• Having an unhealthy eating pattern (diet)

• Not doing enough physical activity

• Having a lot of stress

 

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Managing your diabetes and any other health conditions can also help lower the risk of heart disease.

Health conditions that increase the risk for heart disease include:

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Type 2 diabetes

• Peripheral artery disease

• Kidney disease

 

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Having risk factors are common in people with type 2 diabetes. It's the combination of risk factors that puts someone at high risk for heart disease.

You can talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your risk for heart disease. You can also try using an online heart risk calculator (http://www.cvriskcalculator.com) which can estimate your risk for heart disease after you enter some information about your health. Print out the results and bring them to your next health visit so you can talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your treatment plan for managing diabetes and heart disease at the same time.

 

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It is important to manage your diabetes and other risk factors optimally. This can be possible by making healthy food choices, engaging in physical activity and practicing heart-healthy habits.

Taking your medicines as prescribed for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes is also important. You may need more than 1 medicine to help you reach your health goals. There are medicines that can help improve blood sugar levels while making your heart healthier at the same time.

Doing all of these things, together, can help lower the risk for heart disease and make your heart healthier over time.

 

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Practice these heart-healthy habits to lower your risk for heart disease:

• Be physically active for least 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week

• Choose an eating pattern that includes whole grains, fruits and non-starchy vegetables, high fiber and low in saturated and trans fats

• Avoid foods and drinks with added sugar

• Drink enough water

• Limit drinking alcohol

• Quit smoking if you smoke

• Manage stress

• Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep nightly

• Practice relaxation techniques

 

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• What are my risk factors for heart disease?

• I used the online heart risk calculator. Can we go over my results?

• What should I do to lower my risk for heart disease?

• What kinds of medicines are available for people with diabetes and heart disease?

 

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Congratulations!

You have successfully completed the program: How Is Diabetes Related to Heart Disease?

View Additional Materials on this topic that you may find useful:

Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES): Living with Diabetes

Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES): Heart Disease & Diabetes

Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES): Spanish Language Diabetes Resources

American Heart Association (AHA): Understand Your Risks to Prevent a Heart Attack

American Heart Association (AHA): About Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

American Heart Association (AHA): Kidney Disease and Diabetes

 

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