Bellin Health Heart Blog

Diabetes equals heart disease

Submitted by Kelly Galler on Mon, 2009-11-23 10:24
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Diabetes is becoming more common in the United States. From 1980 through 2006, the number of Americans with diabetes tripled (from 5.6 million to 16.8 million). As the this table shows, people aged 65 years or older account for approximately 37% of the population with diabetes.

 

 

 

Wisconsin - Total Number (in Thousands) of Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes, 1994 - 2007

 http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov

 

 

Some Fearful Facts about Diabetes and Heart Disease

  • Diabetics are 2-4 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease
  • Accelerates the clinical course of atherosclerosis
  • 2 out of 3 diabetics die from heart attack and stroke

 

So what is the link?

  • High blood sugars change and damage the artery walls
  • High levels of insulin change and damage the artery walls
  • Metabolic abnormalities of diabetes like hyperglycemia, elevated free fatty acids levels and insulin resistance contribute to:

               Endothelial dysfunction (arteries become damaged)

               Vasoconstriction (the arteries tighten up, less flexible)

               Inflammation (irritated and inflammed)

               Thrombosis (a clot forms)

The body then attacks these areas of inflammation and damage, to heal its self, but this can result in more blockage. Damage to the lining inside the arteries begins the process of build-up and "hardening of the arteries."

 

Diabetes is a heart disease equivalent

  • Damage to the blood vessels occurs before diabetes is diagnosed. Most people have diabetes for about 2 years, before being diagnosed.
  • Control your risk factors to decrease your risk if you have diabetes
  • Good blood sugar control can limit the problems affecting these blood vessels

 

 

Know your risk factors for cardiovascular disease

  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Overweight or obesity
  • Physical inactivity
  • Diabetes
  • Stress
  • Family history
  • Age

 

Do you have metabolic syndrome?

 

This is an insulin resistance syndrome characterized by a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease.

 

If you have 3 of the following characteristics, you have  metabolic syndrome:

  • Abdominal obesity (waist circumference greater than 40 inches in men or 35 inches in women)
  • High triglyceride levels
  • Low HDL cholesterol levels
  • High blood pressure
  • High blood sugar

 

 

Be a little healthier by doing these things:

  • Eat healthy foods (Fruits,Vegetables, Avoid processed and fried foods)
  • Get some activity: walk
  • Take your medications as prescribed
  • No smoking (this also irritates the lining of your arteries)

 

 

 

 

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