Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.
Unfortunately, adults who live with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease, compared to those without diabetes, according to Dr. Lalitha Rudraiah, a cardiologist with Henry Ford Health.
Why diabetics are at greater risk
“Diabetes seriously impacts how your body functions,” Rudraiah said. “While you may not necessarily notice any physical effects, over time, these changes can put you at greater risk of developing other serious health conditions.”
Rudraiah said some of the effects from diabetes can include:
- Autonomic neurotherapy, also known as nerve damage. Because diabetes can cause nerve damage to your organs, this can, in turn, impact many internal functions of the body, including things like regulating blood pressure and digestion.
- Chronic inflammation. When uncontrolled, chronic inflammation can lead to damage of the lining of large and small-sized arteries in the heart, brain and other vital organs. Rudraiah said this increases your risk of blockages that could result in a stroke or heart attack.
- Increased oxidative stress levels. When someone has increased oxidative stress levels, it creates an imbalance in the body between free radicals like air pollution, fried foods, alcohol and antioxidants, which help to protect the body from free-radical damage. When imbalanced, the body more easily absorbs free radicals, which can lead to severe health conditions like heart disease.
Assessing and dealing with risks
Rudraiah said there are additional health conditions that diabetes can put you at risk for, like coronary artery disease, conditions that impact blood flow to the brain (including stroke and aneurysms), diseases of the eyes or retinas, heart attack, high blood pressure and peripheral vascular disease, to name a few.
While there are heart disease risk factors that you can’t control, like your age and family’s medical history, there are some you do have influence over.
“There are some risk factors that you have control over, like your weight, how much you exercise, and smoking and drinking habits,” Rudraiah said.
It’s important to discuss these things with your doctor early on.
“The sooner, the better,” Rudraiah said. “When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, you should also begin conversations with your doctor about your risk for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor might recommend tests to evaluate your risk at that point.”
She said if you’ve waited to have this visit with your doctor, it’s possible the effects of diabetes going unmanaged have already put you at an increased risk for heart disease.
One of the best ways to prevent a heart disease diagnosis, Rudraiah said, is to strictly manage your diabetes by ensuring you:
- Control your blood sugar levels.
- Keep your cholesterol levels in check.
- Quit smoking.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat a well-founded diet, with whole grains, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
For those who suffer from diabetes, the risk for heart disease will never completely go away, but keep in mind that you can always manage lifestyle factors to help lower your risk.
Another important thing you can do, according to Henry Ford Health, is to keep regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.
What kind of factors could be contributing to your heart disease risk? Click or tap here to take a heart risk assessment.
To find a cardiologist at Henry Ford Health, visit henryford.com/heart or call 800-436-7936.