The link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease is undeniable. Recently, the American Heart Association released an article about the statistics between diabetes patients and heart disease patients. The results were shocking and clear: managing diabetes is essential to managing heart disease. While obesity is linked to both diseases, there are several other issues like cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart rhythm that can be affected by Type-2 diabetes.
A Few Shocking Statistics About Diabetes:
- At least 68 percent of people age 65 or older with diabetes die from some form of heart disease, and 16% die of stroke.
- Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.
- The American Heart Association considers diabetes to be one of the seven major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
*The above statistics are courtesy of the AHA and can be read in full here.*
Why Does Diabetes Increase The Risk of Cardiovascular Disease?
- High blood pressure is common in diabetics due to a positive relationship between insulin resistance and hypertension.
- Diabetics tend to have lipid disorders that contribute to higher risks of high triglycerides and cholesterol.
- Because diabetes can cause a decrease in physical exercise in contributes to increased obesity which places more stress on the cardiovascular system.
- High blood sugar affects both the endocrine and cardiovascular systems of the body.
Prevention
It is never too late to begin living a healthier lifestyle. Patients diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes can help prevent damage to their heart and increased diabetic complications with medication and lifestyle choices. Daily exercise, low-sugar diets, and avoidance of tobacco and alcohol can all make significant improvements in health.
