Keeping your heart healthy when you have diabetes

Preventing heart disease

Glucose goals

As someone with diabetes, you no doubt know how important it is to reach your blood glucose goal. Good glucose control can help you avoid problems with your heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. But blood glucose control alone is not enough to keep you safe from complications.

Blood pressure and cholesterol goals

Diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of early death among people with diabetes. CVD refers to a diseased heart (cardio) and diseased blood vessels (vascular).

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can cause heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney failure and nerve damage. Two conditions that can lead to CVD are high blood pressure and high levels of low-density lipids (LDL or "bad" cholesterol).

Understanding blood pressure and cholesterol and reaching recommended goals can help prevent CVD and reward you with a healthier heart.

Blood pressure basics

Blood pressure is pressure on the walls of your blood vessels as your heart pumps blood through your body.

If your blood vessels become clogged and narrowed, your blood pressure will increase. It may also increase if you are overweight, have kidney problems, or drink too much alcohol. Some people inherit a tendency toward high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can lead to heart attack or stroke, eye problems and more severe kidney problems.

Blood pressure is written as two numbers separated by a slash, such as 120/80. The numbers are often called a blood pressure reading.

• The top number shows the maximum pressure on your arteries when your heart contracts and forces blood through your body.
• The bottom number shows the minimum pressure on your arteries when your heart relaxes and refills with blood.

Blood pressure goal

The American Diabetes Association recommends a blood pressure under 130/80 for people with diabetes.

What can help control blood pressure?

If your blood pressure is high, your provider may ask you to take a medicine called an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor. This type of blood pressure medicine is best for people with diabetes. In addition to lowering your blood pressure, it may help keep your kidneys healthy.

Your health care provider may also suggest that you:

• lose weight
• eat more fruits and vegetables
 
• reduce the salt in your diet drink less alcohol
• get regular exercise.

It is important that you get your blood pressure checked each time you visit your health care provider.

Cholesterol basics

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in your blood. Your body makes some cholesterol to help it function properly. You may also get cholesterol from some of the foods you eat and you may inherit a tendency toward high cholesterol.

When your blood cholesterol level is too high, the cholesterol builds up on the walls of your arteries. Over time, this can:

• block the flow of blood to your heart, depriving it of oxygen (A partial blockage may result in chest pain. A total blockage will cause a heart attack.)
• block the flow of blood to your brain, depriving it  of oxygen. (A total blockage will cause a stroke.)

Cholesterol goals

The American Diabetes Association recommends:

• LDL — less than 100   
• HDL (sometimes called "good" cholesterol  because it helps reduce LDL cholesterol) — 40 or higher for men and 50 or higher for women
• triglycerides (the form in which energy is stored  in your fat cells) — less than 150total cholesterol — less than 200.

What can help control cholesterol?

You can help control your cholesterol level in the following ways:

• Eat a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
 
• Lose weight if you are overweight. This can  lower your LDL level and raise your HDL level.
Exercise regularly for 30 minutes or more. This  can also lower your LDL level and raise your HDL level.
• Take any medicine to lower your cholesterol as prescribed. Changes in diet and exercise are often not enough to reach your cholesterol goals.

You may have a high cholesterol level and not yet have any signs of disease. That is why your health care provider will recommend a cholesterol test once a year.

Low dose aspirin

Research shows that taking a low dose of aspirin every day can reduce your risk of heart disease. Aspirin helps prevent blood clots that can block the flow of blood and lead to heart attack or stroke. But taking aspirin is not safe for everyone, so it is important to talk with your health care provider before you start taking aspirin every day.