Protecting Your Heart When You Have Diabetes

Protecting Your Heart When You Have Diabetes

If you believe you are at a higher risk for heart disease, don’t despair. There are several small lifestyle changes you can make to not only help prevent heart disease, but also manage your diabetes more effectively.

Be active. 
The American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise five days a week. If you don’t have time for all 30 minutes at once, break it down in to 10-minute segments. In addition, the American Diabetes Association recommends getting up every 30 minutes to do a few minutes of light activity during prolonged sedentary periods to help improve blood sugar control.
Consider low-dose aspirin.
 The American Heart Association recommends taking a low dose of aspirin every day, which may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. However, be sure to talk to your doctor about whether or not this is right for you, as there are risks, and aspirin therapy is not for everyone.
Eat a heart-healthy diet

 Reduce consumption of foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, salt, and cholesterol, such as fried foods, red meats, and eggs. Instead, focus on eating more high-fiber foods, including whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Following a heart-healthy diet can also help you manage your diabetes.

If you're overweight, try to shed the pounds

 

If you’re carrying around extra weight, losing even just a small percentage of your weight can help you reduce blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Start by choosing a heart-healthy diet and being more active every day.

Keep blood cholesterol levels within target ranges.

 

LDL (bad) cholesterol should be below 100; HDL (good) cholesterol should be higher than 40 — but the higher, the better. If you have high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about what steps you can take to help lower it.

Keep your blood glucose level within the target range.

 Your doctor should help you determine the right range for you. You can check on your efforts by having A1C tests at least twice a year; these reveal your average blood sugar level for the past three months. A normal A1C level should be below 5.7.

Maintain a controlled blood pressure level. 

Ideally, your blood pressure should be 120/80 or less. Be sure to have your pressure checked during every visit to your doctor's office, and if you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about steps you can take to lower it.
Quit smoking. 

People with either heart disease, diabetes, or both who smoke are at an increased risk of health complications. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. Talk to your doctor about getting help when you're ready to quit.
Take all your medications as prescribed. 

Diabetes and heart disease are serious health conditions. If you have either of these conditions, your doctor may prescribe medication to help you manage. It’s important to take these medications as prescribed — the right dose, at the right time, in the right way, with the right frequency, as skipping treatment can cause negative health outcomes.
If you have diabetes and develop heart disease, treatment — first and foremost — will include lifestyle changes such eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking. You might also need medication to lower your blood glucose, blood pressure, or cholesterol level, and to treat any heart damage. In some cases, you may need surgery or another medical procedure to treat heart disease. Treatment for each person will be different, depending on the type of cardiovascular complication that you might have.

1. Finally, if you develop any symptoms of a heart attack, seek medical help immediately because early treatment can decrease the potential damage to your heart. 

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