Connection Between Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke

Diabetes – Although it isn’t a deadly disease, but it can turn into one as it can give rise to many other life-threatening complications like heart disease and stroke leading to death. Wondering!!!!! Read to know more.

It might shock you, but it is true! Having diabetes and even pre-diabetes puts you at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke. However, you can reduce your risk by keeping your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol controlled, close to the recommended target numbers, i.e. to the levels suggested by diabetes experts for good health. Accomplishing your targets also can help prevent blockage of the blood vessels in your legs, a condition called peripheral arterial disease. You can reach your targets by

• Choosing foods sensibly

• Being physically active

• Taking medications, if needed

If you already have had a heart attack or a stroke, taking proper care of yourself can prevent future health problems. Diabetes is an ailment of metabolism. It is the way our bodies consume digested food for energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose - form of sugar in the blood. 

What Is The Connection Between Diabetes, Heart Disease, And Stroke?

Those who are diabetic, you are at least twice as likely who does not have diabetes to have heart disease or a stroke. Diabetic people also tend to develop heart disease or strokes at an earlier age than other people. If you are middle-aged and have type 2 diabetes, studies suggest that your chance of having a heart attack is as greater as someone without diabetes who has already had one heart attack. Women and Men do have variations in their susceptibility. Women who have not gone through menopause are generally less prone to heart disease than men. But, women of all ages with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease. This is because diabetes abandons the protective effects of being a woman in her child-bearing years.

People with diabetes who have already had one heart attack run an even greater risk of having a second one. In addition, heart attacks in people with diabetes are more serious and more likely to death. High blood glucose levels over time can lead to increased deposits of fatty materials on the insides of the blood vessel walls. These deposits may affect blood flow that increases the chance of blockage and hardening of blood vessels (atherosclerosis).

What Are The Risk Factors For Heart Disease And Stroke In People With Diabetes?

Diabetes itself is a risk factor for stroke and heart disease. Also, majority of people with diabetes have other conditions, which increase their chance of developing heart disease and stroke. These conditions are called risk factors.

One major risk factor for heart disease and stroke is having a family history of heart disease. This means that if one or more members of your family had a heart attack at an early age (before age 55 for men or 65 for women), you may be at an increased risk.