Diabetes and heart health are closely linked, and diabetics are more prone to developing heart disease. Unfortunately, heart disease is also one of the top causes of death among people suffering from diabetes. This blog will discuss the link between diabetes and heart health and how to reduce your risk of heart disease.
In diabetes, your body finds it difficult to regulate blood sugar levels. These chronically high blood sugar levels impair the elasticity of blood vessels, including those which supply the heart muscles, also known as coronary blood vessels, narrowing them, thus compromising the vital blood flow and oxygen supply of the heart itself, increasing infections, inflammation, and weakness of the blood vessels.
This damage to your blood vessels further increases the risk of developing heart disease. Diabetes also increases harmful cholesterol levels in your blood, which can lead to plaque formation in your arteries. Some common risk factors for heart disease among people with diabetes include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and obesity. Smoking and a sedentary lifestyle can also increase heart disease risk among people with diabetes.
Fortunately, taking several lifestyle measures can reduce the risk of heart disease in #diabetics. Here are some tips:
Keep your blood sugar levels under control: Monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly and taking your medication as directed can help you control your blood sugar levels, reducing your risk of heart disease.
Maintain a healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats, sugars, and sodium, can help you maintain a healthy weight, lowering your blood pressure and thus reducing your risk of heart disease.
Maintain an exercise routine: Regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, lower your blood pressure, and improve your heart health. Aiming for at least 2 1/2 hours a week of moderate-intensity exercise can help reduce heart disease risk, as per the recommendations of the American Heart Association.
Quit smoking: Smoking undoubtedly increases the risk of #heart disease among people with #diabetes. No matter how many filters are used or whatever type of smoke is done. Smoking kills, and in diabetes, it just kills faster. If you smoke, talk to your healthcare provider about strategies to quit smoking.
Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels: Monitoring #bloodpressure and cholesterol levels regularly and taking medication as directed can help you manage these risk factors and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Get regular checkups: Most importantly, regular checkups with your #healthcare provider can help you identify and manage any health issues that could increase your risk of heart disease.
In summary, people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. Still, there are several steps you can take to reduce your risk. By controlling your #bloodsugarlevels, maintaining a #healthydiet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, managing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and getting regular checkups, you can improve your #hearthealth and reduce your risk of #heartdisease.
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Dr. Deepak Chaturvedi, M.D., Medicine
Diabetes, Thyroid, Hormone and Obesity Consultant
9987002515 | drdeepakchaturvedi.com
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