Diabetes is a chronic condition that can cause health problems throughout your body, including your heart. In fact, if you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to develop heart disease.
Unfortunately, diabetes is a growing problem in the U.S., with the number of diagnosed adults doubling over the past two decades. It’s estimated that 38 million Americans have diabetes, yet one in five doesn’t realize it.
The condition is becoming even more common among young adults and children, as our obesity rates rise. The disease goes hand-in-hand with being overweight, poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which there is too much sugar (glucose) in your blood. Sugar enters your body primarily through carbohydrates found in the foods and drinks you consume. The condition develops when your pancreas loses the ability to make enough insulin – a substance that helps control blood sugar levels – or if your body doesn’t respond properly to insulin.
The disease can affect people of all ages. There are several types of diabetes, with the most common being:
- Type 2 diabetes: Your body doesn’t make enough insulin and/or your body doesn’t respond normally to insulin (insulin resistance). This is the most common form of the disease, primarily affecting adults.
- Type 1 diabetes: This is an autoimmune disease in which insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are attacked by your own immune system for reasons that are not understood. It represents about 10 percent of diabetes cases and is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.
- Gestational diabetes: This condition can develop during pregnancy and usually goes away afterward. However, it is linked to increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Diabetes and Your Heart
Unfortunately, diabetes is linked to a large number of health conditions. That excess sugar in your blood increases your risk for nerve damage, skin infections, vision problems, kidney failure and amputations. Most importantly, the disease makes it more likely that you will develop heart disease and doubles your risk for heart attack or stroke.
The danger comes from the way diabetes contributes to the most common form of heart disease – coronary artery disease. The condition develops over time as the walls of your arteries become lined with plaque, which is made of cholesterol and other substances. As the plaque builds, it causes your arteries to narrow and restricts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart. This, in turn, makes your heart weaker, making you more vulnerable to heart attack, stroke and heart failure.
When your blood is carrying too much sugar, it causes those plaques to form more aggressively, while also contributing to general inflammation.
Lower Your Diabetes Risk
The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your heart and lower your risk of developing diabetes. Among them:
Watch your weight: Excess weight is one of the most important risk factors for diabetes. Carbohydrates, a key source of energy for your body, aren’t a bad thing. But when you eat too much, you overwhelm your body. Pick a healthy diet that limits consumption of carbs and starches, while emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and healthy fats. Do yourself a favor and pay attention to nutrition labels.
Get your numbers checked: Diabetes is among several diseases referred to as “silent killers.” That’s because many people with diabetes have no idea they have the disease in its earlier stages. Regular checkups with your primary care doctor should include testing for blood sugar. The sooner you realize there is a problem, the sooner you can start working on it.
Stay active: Exercise is an effective way to manage your blood sugar levels, by helping your body burn off some of that excess fuel. It also helps with weight control. It is recommended that you exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
Know your family history: Sometimes, you can do everything right and still find yourself with an increased risk. The disease can be passed on – through genetics – from parents to children. So, if you have a parent or grandparent who is diabetic, you need to be watched more closely.
What To Do When All You See Is Doom and Gloom
