Diabetes and Heart Disease

Summary

This video, revised in 2004, reflects the most recent guidelines for blood pressure and cholesterol for people with diabetes. It explains why people with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease. It presents the possibility of increased risk of complications and how to minimize those risks.

Details

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among people with diabetes and is related to:

• high blood sugar
• high blood cholesterol levels
• high blood pressure
• inactivity or being overweight

These factors contribute to the development of macro vascular disease, or disease of the large blood vessels.

The first step in preventing heart disease:

• determine your individual risk
• risk increases with age or if you have a family history of heart disease

Risk factors you can manage are:

• high blood sugar
• high blood cholesterol
• high blood pressure

You should see your health care team regularly to monitor these risk factors.

Have a Hemoglobin A1C test performed by your health care team at least twice a year.

Cholesterol levels:

• total blood cholesterol less than 200 milligrams per deciliter
• LDL level should be less than 100
• HDL level over 45 for men and over 55 for women
• triglyceride level under 200

Your health care team may also want to check the level of homocysteine in your blood.

Explanation of Hypertension (high blood pressure):

• blood pressure reading is a measure of how hard your heart has to work to pump blood
• people with diabetes should keep their blood pressure under 130 over 85

Keep records of your self-testing results and share this information with your health care team.

Other risk factors:

• physical inactivity or lack of exercise
• being overweight
• smoking
• stress

Keep your blood sugar in your target range.

Benefits of good nutrition:

• lowers your risk for heart disease
• helps manage diabetes

Exercise helps you:

• lose weight
• manage blood sugar
• lower cholesterol and blood pressure
• reduce stress

Exercises:

• aerobic activity strengthens the heart
• examples of aerobic activity are riding a bike, dancing, swimming and walking

It’s important to choose activities that you can enjoy, so that you’ll stick with your program.

Gradually increase the length and intensity of your workout.

• goal is exercise for twenty minutes or more, three to five times a week
• always begin with a warm-up activity and end with a cool-down period

Stop smoking: Nicotine patches, gums, inhalers, and nasal sprays, as well as oral medications can help you satisfy the craving for nicotine without lighting up.

Changing lifestyle habits can be difficult, and can lead to another risk factor: stress.

Stress may be harmful to your diabetes control, as well as to your heart health

• physical effects of stress: increase in blood pressure and hormonal levels which damage blood vessels
• stress can interfere with your maintenance of good habits

Set aside time each day to relax.

If these lifestyle changes aren't enough, your health care team may prescribe medications.

Symptoms of heart disease:

• shortness of breath
• weakness or tiredness after doing everyday activities

If you notice any of these symptoms, notify your health care team.

Symptoms of a heart attack:

• chest pain
• chest pressure
• neck, jaw or arm pain
• sweating, nausea or vomiting

Call for emergency medical attention or have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room and chew two aspirins.