Diabetes and heart disease can unfortunatly go hand-in-hand. People with diabetes are at a much greater risk of having heart attacks, high blood pressure, and strokes. Also, people with diabetes often have much higher blood sugar levels that can cause serious damage to multiple apendages of their body. Vascular problems caused by diabetes may also include poor circulation to the legs and feet. Unfortunately these problems coften go undetected and start early in life.
The risk of getting diabetes and heart disease can start well before the age of thirty. The two most common forms of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes, also called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is an auto-immune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce your insulin. This results in a lower amount of insulin or no insulin at all. Type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, is the result of the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or no insulin at all.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends early diagnosis, treatment and management of risk factors.
Those who suffer from diabetes and heart disease experience changes in the blood vessels where the linings of the blood vessels may become thicker which makes it more difficult for blood th flow through the vessels. Blood vessels in other parts of the body can also be damaged due to diabetes. This can lead to kidney problems, eye problems, and poor circulation to the legs and feet.
Heart disease rates in adults are between two to four times higher than adults without diabetes. The risk of stroke is also two to four times higher for those with diabetics. Seventy-three percent of adults with diabetes also have high blood pressure and heart attacks at an earlier age.
The most common symptoms of heart disease may include chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and swollen ankles. These symptoms may also resemble other medical conditions and so it is always advisable to seek the help of a licensed physician for diagnosis.
Heart disease may still occur in a person taking proper self-care. Your doctor can determine the required specific treatment of the heart disease according to age, medical history and overall health of the person. It will also be based on the extent of the disease and the tolerance for specific medications, procedure or therapies.
When risk factors for a person with diabetes are eliminated or reduced, the risk for heart disease may also be reduced. Taking care of ones health and controlling blood sugar can often slow down or avoid the onset of complications for diabetes and heart disease.
