You
must keep blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol as close to normal as
possible to protect your heart
KEEP AT IT. Making even small changes is hard in the beginning. Try to add one new change a week. If you get off track, start again and keep at it.
Having diabetes is hard on your heart. You might worry more about other diabetes complications, like eye, kidney and nerve disease, but did you know that when you have diabetes there is a 80 percent chance you will die of heart disease? It's true; compared to a person who doesn't have diabetes, you are much more likely to have a heart attack, and heart problems are likely to be more severe and to strike you when you are younger.
Heart disease is also tremendously expensive to treat. As a result of the devastating human and economic toll, the medical community is paying much more attention to the diabetes–heart health connection. Scientists are trying to understand it better, and health care providers are trying to do something about it.
Diabetes and heart disease: what's the link?
KEEP AT IT. Making even small changes is hard in the beginning. Try to add one new change a week. If you get off track, start again and keep at it.
Having diabetes is hard on your heart. You might worry more about other diabetes complications, like eye, kidney and nerve disease, but did you know that when you have diabetes there is a 80 percent chance you will die of heart disease? It's true; compared to a person who doesn't have diabetes, you are much more likely to have a heart attack, and heart problems are likely to be more severe and to strike you when you are younger.
Heart disease is also tremendously expensive to treat. As a result of the devastating human and economic toll, the medical community is paying much more attention to the diabetes–heart health connection. Scientists are trying to understand it better, and health care providers are trying to do something about it.
Diabetes and heart disease: what's the link?
In addition to the high risks that attend diabetes itself, people with diabetes often have two other major risks factors for heart disease:
high blood pressure
high cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Each of these conditions contributes to blood vessel damage; the vessels get blocked and less flexible, cutting off circulation to the heart and making it work too hard. This condition is called cardiovascular disease or CVD for short. People with diabetes are likely to suffer from other large blood vessel conditions, such as stroke, as well.
Be smart about your heart
Keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure and blood fat (cholesterol) levels as close to normal as possible can help keep your blood vessels healthy and protect your heart. Unfortunately, most people with diabetes don't know that. Most aren't aware that heart disease is the most deadly complication of diabetes, and very few know the specific things they can do to maintain heart health.
Recently a coalition of diabetes groups including the National Institutes of Health and the American Diabetes Association launched a project to give people with diabetes and their health care providers the information they need. This project is called, “Be Smart About Your Heart: Control the ABCs of Diabetes.” The message is clear: Take control of the ABCs of diabetes care and live a long and healthy life.
A is for A1c. The A1c (”A-one-c”) test – short for hemoglobin A1c – measures your average blood glucose over the last three months.
B is for blood pressure. High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard.
C is for cholesterol. ”Bad” cholesterol or LDL cholesterol builds up and clogs your arteries.
Do you know your ABC numbers? If you don't, be sure to get them from your health care provider. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends an A1c of less than or equal to 6.5 percent, and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends blood pressure below 130/80, and LDL cholesterol below 100. (The ADA recommends that people who have both diabetes and heart disease aim for an LDL cholesterol level below 70, using statin medications to reach this target). If any of your ABC numbers are higher than these targets, talk to your health care provider about actions you can take to reach your ABC targets. These actions could include changing your diet, getting more active, quitting smoking or taking medication.
Bottom line: anything you do to get closer to your ABC targets helps keep your heart healthy. For more on the “Be Smart About Your Heart” program, and lots of other useful diabetes information, visit the National Diabetes Education Project website at www.ndep.nih.gov or call 1 800 438-5383.
KEEP AT IT. Making even small changes is hard in the beginning. Try to add one new change a week. If you get off track, start again and keep at it.
#Diabetes and Your #Heart for #diabetics- #diabetic
KEEP AT IT. Making even small changes is hard in the beginning. Try to add one new change a week. If you get off track, start again and keep at it.
Having diabetes is hard on your heart. You might worry more about other diabetes complications, like eye, kidney and nerve disease, but did you know that when you have diabetes there is a 80 percent chance you will die of heart disease? It's true; compared to a person who doesn't have diabetes, you are much more likely to have a heart attack, and heart problems are likely to be more severe and to strike you when you are younger.
Heart disease is also tremendously expensive to treat. As a result of the devastating human and economic toll, the medical community is paying much more attention to the diabetes–heart health connection. Scientists are trying to understand it better, and health care providers are trying to do something about it.
Diabetes and heart disease: what's the link?
In addition to the high risks that attend diabetes itself, people with diabetes often have two other major risks factors for heart disease:
high blood pressure
high cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Each of these conditions contributes to blood vessel damage; the vessels get blocked and less flexible, cutting off circulation to the heart and making it work too hard. This condition is called cardiovascular disease or CVD for short. People with diabetes are likely to suffer from other large blood vessel conditions, such as stroke, as well.
Be smart about your heart
Keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure and blood fat (cholesterol) levels as close to normal as possible can help keep your blood vessels healthy and protect your heart. Unfortunately, most people with diabetes don't know that. Most aren't aware that heart disease is the most deadly complication of diabetes, and very few know the specific things they can do to maintain heart health.
Recently a coalition of diabetes groups including the National Institutes of Health and the American Diabetes Association launched a project to give people with diabetes and their health care providers the information they need. This project is called, “Be Smart About Your Heart: Control the ABCs of Diabetes.” The message is clear: Take control of the ABCs of diabetes care and live a long and healthy life.
A is for A1c. The A1c (”A-one-c”) test – short for hemoglobin A1c – measures your average blood glucose over the last three months.
B is for blood pressure. High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard.
C is for cholesterol. ”Bad” cholesterol or LDL cholesterol builds up and clogs your arteries.
Do you know your ABC numbers? If you don't, be sure to get them from your health care provider. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends an A1c of less than or equal to 6.5 percent, and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends blood pressure below 130/80, and LDL cholesterol below 100. (The ADA recommends that people who have both diabetes and heart disease aim for an LDL cholesterol level below 70, using statin medications to reach this target). If any of your ABC numbers are higher than these targets, talk to your health care provider about actions you can take to reach your ABC targets. These actions could include changing your diet, getting more active, quitting smoking or taking medication.
Bottom line: anything you do to get closer to your ABC targets helps keep your heart healthy. For more on the “Be Smart About Your Heart” program, and lots of other useful diabetes information, visit the National Diabetes Education Project website at www.ndep.nih.gov or call 1 800 438-5383.
KEEP AT IT. Making even small changes is hard in the beginning. Try to add one new change a week. If you get off track, start again and keep at it.
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