Diabetes is a
disease in which the body either lacks insulin or does not produce enough
insulin to break ingested glucose into cells.
As a result, the glucose remain in the blood and damage blood
vessels. A high content of glucose in the blood is called hyperglycemia
and is often a precursor to heart attack and stroke.
People who have
diabetes have twice as much of a chance of having a heart attack and stroke as
those without this condition.
In addition to diabetes itself being a risk factor for heart
attack and stroke, there are other risk factors that people with diabetes
should be aware of to reduce their risk factor for heart attack and
stroke. This includes central obesity.
Studies by the American
Heart Association have indicated that while obesity in itself is a risk for a
heart attack, carrying excess weight around the waist increases your risk of
heart attack.
This is believed to be due to the fact that abdominal fat
increases bad cholesterol more than fat on other areas of the body.
Speaking of cholesterol, those with diabetes should carefully
monitor their cholesterol carefully.
Because the blood vessels are
already weakened by the excessive glucose in the blood level, people with
diabetes have to be especially careful about their cholesterol levels as their
arteries can become blocked easier than those without diabetes.
Monitoring cholesterol is important for everyone, but imperative for those with
diabetes.
Hypertension is also a dangerous condition for those with diabetes
and can lead to heart attack or stroke.
Damaged blood vessels having to
work harder to pump blood from your heart throughout your body can cause heart
damage, stroke, and even eye problems.
Clearly, those who have diabetes must not only carefully monitor
the disease, but he complications that can rise from diabetes.
While it
is important for everyone to check their blood pressure, cholesterol and
maintain an ideal weight, it is even more important for someone who has
diabetes.
In order to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke for people
with diabetes, it is important, first of all, to manage the disease.
By eating proper foods that are recommended for people who have this condition,
exercising and taking your medication, you can maintain a good glucose level in
your blood that will reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
By
monitoring your cholesterol and blood pressure and seeing your physician on a
regular basis, you can stop a potential problem before it begins.
By empowering yourself to learn all you can about managing
diabetes and complying with the instructions of your physician, you can live an
active and long life with diabetes. Knowledge and facing the situation is
the key.
Those who refuse to follow advice, who prefer to eat whatever
they feel like, not exercise and pretend that the disease does not exist put
themselves at the most risk.
Type II diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in many
countries. It does not have to be a killer.
People who follow
instructions, learn about the disease and comply with their physician have an
excellent chance at reducing their risk of acquiring any of the complications
associated with this disease.
Despite the link between diabetes, heart
attack and stroke, those who maintain their health can avoid these conditions.