Why Heart Disease Risk Is Increased by Diabetes

To inform individuals with type 2 diabetes about heart disease and ways to lower their risk, a campaign has been started.

Diabetes and heart disease are related, and the consequences can be fatal. To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in those with type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have teamed up.

The campaign, named Know Diabetes by Heart, is a new multi-year awareness and education program.

Adults with diabetes have a two to four times higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than adults without the disease, according to the American Heart Association.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 100 million Americans have prediabetes or diabetes as of 2017.

But just roughly half of those with type 2 diabetes who were 45 years of age or older knew of the risk, according to a recent online study by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association.

According to a press release, Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, “the public health impact and growing threat of diabetes and cardiovascular disease are too significant for any one organization to tackle alone.”

In order to develop meaningful solutions and provide useful tools and information that can inspire people with type 2 diabetes to take action toward bettering their health and lowering their risk of heart disease, Brown continued, “Our collaboration with the American Diabetes Association and industry supporters is crucial.”

Why diabetes raises the risk of CVD

High levels of glucose, or blood sugar, are the first step in the relationship between type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Overconsumption of glucose will eventually cause harm to your arteries by producing an internal accumulation of fatty material that will harden them. This health issue is known as atherosclerosis.

Eventually, atherosclerosis will stop blood flow to the brain and heart, which could result in a stroke or heart attack that could be fatal. If heart disease runs in your family, your risk increases even more.

Obesity, a family history of diabetes, and insufficient physical activity are major risk factors for this illness. With age comes an increased risk of type 2 diabetes as well.

The elevated risk persists even though hyperglycemia can be controlled with diet and medicines. This is due to the fact that diabetes, particularly type 2, often coexists with other illnesses that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes puts the stomach, nerves, heart, blood vessels, muscles, and reproductive systems at risk, according to Joy Cornthwaite, RD, a diabetes educator at UTHealth/UT Physicians in Houston, Texas, who spoke with diabetes councils.

Read Also: All the Information You Need to Know About Diabetes Testing

Not merely a higher chance of heart disease

During focus groups in September, the ADA and AHA discovered that many individuals with type 2 diabetes are disturbed by the difficulty of controlling their illness.

The chief executive officer of the ADA, Tracey D. Brown, stated in a press statement that she “empathizes with the denial, worry, fear, and even frustration that can accompany a diabetes diagnosis and the daily management of the disease.” Brown herself has type 2 diabetes.

Members of the focus group also expressed feeling pessimistic, which decreased their likelihood of taking the necessary steps to lower the risk of long-term consequences.

According to Cornthwaite, “serious complications include delayed stomach emptying, amputations, kidney disease, and loss of vision.”

People over 60 are especially vulnerable. Over 25% of Americans who are 65 years of age or older have diabetes. One major problem for elderly people with diabetes is that it’s easy to overlook the signs.

In elderly persons, common symptoms like constant thirst and frequent urination are less evident. Lethargy and weariness are two other type 2 diabetes symptoms that are sometimes confused with signs of aging.

Because of this, elderly adults with diabetes may appear to have few symptoms and may go misdiagnosed until they have suffered grave health consequences.

“The quality of life can be considerably diminished by these difficulties, even in their early stages. Even worse, elderly people with fixed incomes might not have the means to get the advanced diabetes-related complications that require specialized care, according to Cornthwaite.

The focal point of the project

The goal of the new program is to assist individuals with type 2 diabetes in making healthy lifestyle choices that will lower their risk of heart disease and stroke.

The program will also assist healthcare practitioners by utilizing the most recent evidence-based standards. It encompasses quality improvement activities in hospitals, clinics, and physician offices that treat patients with type 2 diabetes.

Cornthwaite contends that doctors’ advice to “exercise, eat a healthy diet, and take your medications” is insufficient.

She clarified that individuals with diabetes should understand the rationale behind the instructions they get. It may result in improved self-care.

Giving up smoking is a crucial factor to take into account. According to Cornthwaite, smoking destroys blood vessels and the heart, raising the risk of heart disease.

Try the test

Individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can assess their risk of heart disease and stroke by completing an online questionnaire at KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org.

Additionally, you may download a discussion guide that includes some suggested topics for your next meeting with your doctor as well as the top three questions you should ask them.

Next year will see the release of more activities, materials, and advocacy aids pertaining to the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Keeping diabetes at bay

Prevention is just as vital as treatment for those with diabetes, who must also understand how the disease can harm their arteries and how important it is to manage it.

According to Cornthwaite, avoiding type 2 diabetes requires both physical activity and a nutritious diet.

To lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, she advised losing weight, increasing your physical activity, and improving your diet.

In summary

Heart disease risk is increased by type 2 diabetes. Although glucose can be managed with food and medicine, there is still a risk.

Together, the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association are providing people with type 2 diabetes with useful resources and information to help them take control of their health and lower their risk of heart disease. The campaign to raise awareness and educate the public is called Know Diabetes by Heart.