Make The Link—Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

People who are overweight or obese have increased risk of contracting Type 2 diabetes. But what many of these people may not be aware of is the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths, but the majority of people with diabetes are more fearful of complications such as blindness and amputation. While three-quarters report that they have experienced cardiovascular complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or stroke, they failed to link these problems with diabetes.

According to a study by the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Cardiology, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of people with diabetes do not consider cardiovascular disease to be a serious complication of diabetes. Even though people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or suffer stroke than those without diabetes, more than half of people with diabetes do not feel at risk for heart condition or stroke.

If you're diabetic, know your ABCs!

  • A is for A1C, short for the hemoglobin A1C test, which measures blood glucose over the past 3 months
  • B is for blood pressure
  • C is for cholesterol
Your next steps are to:

  • Stay at a healthy weight
  • Get physical activity every day
  • Eat less fat and salt
  • Eat more fiber—choose whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans
  • Stop smoking—ask your doctor for help
  • Take medicines as prescribed
  • Ask your doctor about taking aspirin
  • Ask your doctor, your family, and others to help manage your diabetes
Copyright 2002—Fred D. Baldwin, PhD, used by permission.

Baldwin is a freelance writer who lives in Carlisle, PA. He's a member of the Author's Guild, National Writers Union, and National Association of Science Writers and is the co-author of "Infomedicine, A Consumer's Guide to the Latest Medical Research."

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