Diabetes & Heart
"Heartfelt Care: Nurturing Your Heart While Managing Diabetes."
Diabetes & Heart – Overview
Changes in your lifestyle can lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Heart disease and diabetes frequently occur simultaneously. Make easy changes to your lifestyle that can also help you manage diabetes and protect your heart.
Heart disease is serious and very common. If you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke as someone who does not have diabetes, and you are also twice as likely to have them earlier in life. Heart disease is more likely to occur in people who have diabetes for a longer period of time.
However, the good news is that changing certain lifestyle habits can lower your risk of heart disease and improve your heart health. Additionally, these modifications will improve your diabetes management.
There are many different issues with your heart that make up heart disease. The expression "cardiovascular sickness" is comparable however incorporates a wide range of coronary illness, stroke, and vein infection. Coronary artery disease, which restricts blood flow to the heart, is the most prevalent type.
Plaque builds up in the walls of the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen and blood to the heart, resulting in coronary artery disease. Cholesterol deposits create plaque, which narrows arteries and reduces blood flow inside them. Atherosclerosis, or artery hardening, is the term used to describe this process. Heart attacks can occur when blood flow to the heart is reduced. A stroke can occur when blood flow to the brain is reduced.
Other parts of the body can also experience artery hardening. It is known as peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, in the legs and feet. PAD is frequently the initial symptom of cardiovascular disease in diabetes patients.
How Diabetes Affects the Heart Over time:
High blood sugar can cause damage to your heart's nerves and blood vessels. Other conditions that increase the risk of heart disease are also more common in diabetics:
• A high blood pressure can damage the walls of your arteries and increase the force with which blood flows through them. Diabetes and high blood pressure can significantly raise your risk of heart disease.
• Plaque can form on damaged artery walls if your bloodstream contains an excessive amount of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
• It is thought that high triglycerides—a type of fat in your blood—and low HDL (the "good" cholesterol) or high LDL cholesterol contribute to artery hardening.
There are no symptoms for these conditions. A straightforward blood test can be performed by your doctor to determine whether your LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels are elevated.
Heart disease risk can also be increased by these factors:
Smoking, being overweight or obese, not exercising enough, eating a diet high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt, and sodium, and drinking too much alcohol are all risk factors for heart failure in diabetics. Although heart failure is a serious condition, it does not necessarily indicate that the heart has stopped beating; It indicates that your heart is unable to efficiently pump blood. This can result in leg swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Although early diagnosis and treatment can help alleviate symptoms and prevent or delay the condition's worsening, heart failure typically worsens over time.
To monitor your heart health, get checked out on a regular basis.
Testing for Heart Disease Your doctor will be able to get a better understanding of your overall risk for heart disease based on your weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. Other tests to check your heart health that your doctor may recommend include:
• An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to assess the electrical activity of your heart. An electrical impulse that travels through your heart is what causes your heartbeat.
• An echocardiogram, also known as an echo, to check how well your heart pumps and how thick your heart muscle is.
• A treadmill stress test to determine how well your heart works when you exercise.
Take Care of Your Heart These changes to your lifestyle can help you manage diabetes and reduce your risk of heart disease or prevent it from getting worse:
• Eat a nutritious diet. Eat more whole grains, lean protein, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid trans-fat and eat fewer processed foods like chips, sweets, and fast food. Drink more water, cut back on sugary drinks, and cut back on alcohol.
• Set a healthy weight goal. Even a small amount of weight loss can lower blood sugar and triglycerides in overweight individuals. For a person who weighs 200 pounds, a modest weight loss is 5% to 7% of their body weight, or just 10 to 14 pounds.
• Get moving. Being physically active helps you manage your diabetes because it makes your body more sensitive to insulin, the hormone that allows cells in your body to use blood sugar for energy. You can also lower your risk of heart disease and control your blood sugar levels through physical activity. Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking, every week.
• Control your A-Z:
o A: Take a routine A1C test to determine your average blood sugar over the past two to three months; try to stay as close to your target as possible.
o B: Keep your blood pressure below 140/90 millimeters of mercury (or the target set by your doctor).
o C: Control your cholesterol.
o s: Either quit or don't start.
• Reduce stress: Stress can make your blood pressure go up and make you do unhealthy things like eat too much or drink too much alcohol. Instead, talk to a mental health counselor, try deep breathing or meditation, get some exercise, or ask for help from friends and family.
Your blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides may also need to be controlled with the help of medications that your doctor may prescribe.
By controlling your blood glucose, or blood sugar, you can protect your heart and health if you have diabetes. Controlling your high cholesterol and high blood pressure can also help you stay safe. If you smoke, seek assistance to quit.
What is the connection between diabetes, stroke, and heart disease?
Diabetes-related high blood glucose can damage your heart and blood vessels as well as the nerves that control them. This damage can result in heart disease over time.1 People with diabetes are more likely than people without diabetes to develop heart disease earlier in life. The good news is that the measures you take to manage your diabetes can also lower your risk of heart disease or stroke. Adults with diabetes have nearly twice the risk of heart disease or stroke as adults without diabetes.2,3
If I have diabetes, what else increases my risk of heart disease or stroke?
Whether you have diabetes or not, males are more likely than females to develop heart disease. If you do have diabetes, other factors increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Smoking: Smoking makes you more likely to get heart disease. Because both smoking and diabetes cause blood vessels to narrow, quitting smoking is critical if you have the disease. Lung disease, lower leg infections, and ulcers, as well as foot or leg amputation, are all long-term consequences of smoking.
High blood pressure: your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body. High blood pressure can put pressure on your heart, damage your blood vessels, and make you more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or problems with your eyes or kidneys. Work with your doctor to manage or lower high blood pressure and have it checked on a regular basis.
Abnormal levels of cholesterol: Cholesterol is a type of fat that is made by your liver and is present in your blood. Your blood contains two types of cholesterol: Both LDL and HDL. LDL, also known as "bad" cholesterol, has the potential to accumulate and clog blood vessels. Your risk of heart disease is increased when you have high levels of LDL cholesterol. HDL is frequently referred to as "good cholesterol." Heart disease and stroke risk are linked to higher HDL levels. Limit your intake of fat, increase your intake of plant-based foods, and engage in regular physical activity to raise your LDL and HDL levels.
When your levels of triglycerides in your blood are higher than what your medical team recommends, they can also increase your risk of heart disease.
Obesity and belly fat: Being overweight or obese can make it harder to control your diabetes and increase your risk of a number of health issues, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. A healthy diet with fewer calories and more frequent physical activity will lower blood glucose levels and reduce your need for medication if you are overweight.
Even if you are not overweight, belly fat around your waist can increase your risk of heart disease.
If your waist measurement is
• More than 35 inches for a woman
• More than 40 inches for a man, you have excess belly fat.
Chronic kidney disease: Heart disease is closely linked to chronic kidney disease, which occurs when your kidneys become damaged and are unable to filter blood as effectively as they should. Kidney disease, which affects approximately 40% of diabetics, is a risk factor for diabetes. High blood pressure and a family history of kidney failure are additional risk factors for kidney disease.
Get tested for kidney disease if you have risk factors, and you can protect your kidneys by eating healthy foods, getting more exercise, trying to maintain a healthy weight, and managing conditions that damage your kidneys.
Heart disease in the family: A family history of heart disease may increase your risk of developing the disease. You have twice the risk of developing heart disease compared to people who do not have a family history of the disease4 if one or more members of your family had a heart attack before the age of 50. You cannot change whether heart disease runs in your family. However, taking steps to reduce your risk of stroke and prevent heart disease is even more critical if you have diabetes.
If I have diabetes, how can I lower my risk of having a heart attack or stroke?
Diabetes management is essential for heart health protection. By following these steps to maintain the health of your heart and blood vessels, you can significantly lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke:5 Manage your diabetes ABCs Learn your diabetes ABCs to assist you in controlling your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol. If you have diabetes, stop smoking to lower your risk of heart disease.
The A1C test displays your average blood glucose level over the past three months. This is not the same as checking your blood glucose on a daily basis. The more elevated your blood glucose levels have been over the past three months, the higher your A1C number is. Your heart, kidneys, blood vessels, feet, and eyes can all be harmed by high levels of glucose in your blood.
For many diabetics, the A1C target is below 7%. A slightly higher A1C target might be better for some people. As you get older and change your lifestyle, your A1C goals may also change. Determine your objective with the help of your healthcare team.
B stands for blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force that your blood exerts on the blood vessels' walls. Your heart has to work too hard if your blood pressure is too high. Your kidneys and eyes can be harmed by high blood pressure, which can also lead to heart attacks and strokes.
The majority of diabetics should keep their blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg. Identify your objective.
C stands for cholesterol. A heart attack or stroke can result from a build-up of cholesterol, a type of fat found in the blood. Find out what your cholesterol levels should be from your healthcare team. To lower your cholesterol levels and protect your heart, you may need to take medication, such as a statin, if you are over 40. Some people may need to start taking medication earlier if they have very high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
S stands for "Stop Smoking." Quitting smoking is especially important for people who have diabetes because both smoking and diabetes cause blood vessels to narrow, making it harder for your heart to pump blood around the body. Additionally, e-cigarettes are not a secure option.
• If you quit smoking, your risk of having a heart attack will go down; stroke; disease of the nerve, kidney, and eye; and amputation may improve your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels; improve blood circulation; and make it easier to engage in physical activity. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, stop. So, you don't have to do it on your own, ask for help.
Discuss your objectives for A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol with your healthcare team and what you can do to achieve them. You may need to be referred to a diabetes educator or a registered dietitian in order to improve your ability to manage your diabetes on your own. Some of these services will be paid for by Medicare, some private insurers, and other organizations.
Using a form for your diabetes record, you can keep track of your ABCs. It can be utilized during in-person or online meetings with your healthcare team. Discuss your objectives, how you're doing, and whether or not you need to modify your diabetes treatment plan with your team.
Create or keep healthy lifestyle habits: Being physically active can help you deal with stress and manage your diabetes.
Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits can assist you in managing your diabetes and preventing heart disease.
• Stick to your eating plan.
• Include physical activity in your daily routine.
• Maintain or achieve a healthy weight.
• Get adequate rest.
Learn to control your stress:
Diabetes management isn't always easy. Diabetes patients frequently experience feelings of anger, sadness, loneliness, and stress. You might know what to do to keep your health, but it might be hard for you to stick to your plan over time. Long-term stress can raise blood pressure and glucose levels, but there are ways to reduce stress. Take a walk, do yoga, talk to a loved one, work on a hobby, or listen to your favorite music while deep-breathing.
Take heart-safe medication:
Medicines may be an essential component of your treatment plan. Depending on your specific requirements, your doctor will prescribe medication.
• Reach your A1C (blood glucose), blood pressure, and cholesterol goals with medication.
• Lower your risk of stroke, heart attack, or blood clots.
• Treat angina, or chest pain, which is frequently a sign of heart disease. Angina can also be a sign of a heart attack early on.
• Treat heart failure, a type of heart disease in which your heart is unable to pump blood sufficiently for your body to function normally.
- Ask your doctor if you should take aspirin every day. Some people are not safe taking aspirin. If taking aspirin is right for you, your doctor can tell you exactly how much to take.
For some people with diabetes, statins can lower their risk of having a heart attack or stroke. In addition, it has been demonstrated that certain diabetes medications can lower the risk of heart attack and death in patients who are extremely at risk for heart attack. If you want to lower your risk of having a heart attack, talk to your doctor about taking a statin or diabetes medication.
Follow the directions given to you by your doctor or other medical professionals. If you have any concerns regarding your medications, consult your physician or pharmacist. Ask your doctor about potential side effects and how to avoid them before starting a new medication. Tell your doctor if the side effects of your medication bother you. Do not stop taking your medications without first consulting your doctor.
When to seek help:
If you get any of these symptoms,
- Chest pain that persists for more than a few minutes or disappears only to return;
- Pain or discomfort in one or both of your arms or shoulders; shortness of breath; sweating or lightheadedness; indigestion or nausea (feeling sick to your stomach);
- Feeling very tired. Treatment is most effective when administered as soon as possible.
- Different people may exhibit different warning signs. You may not exhibit all of the symptoms listed.
Women may experience
- Nausea, vomiting, and chest pain;
- Feel extremely worn out, sometimes for days
- Experience pain that radiates to the jaw, shoulders, back, neck, and throat. There is a possibility that people with diabetes having nerve damage do not experience any chest pain.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, which could indicate a stroke:
- Sudden weakness or numbness in one side of your face, arm, or leg;
- Confusion
- Difficulty speaking or understanding
- Dizziness
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes
- Sudden, severe headache
"Managing diabetes is easier than ever with our comprehensive solutions."
Apollo Sugar Clinics, Beltola