You might already know that diabetes causes high blood sugar levels, but did you know that people with diabetes are almost twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease such as heart failure? Discover the link between diabetes and heart disease.
The Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a condition that develops when the body stops making insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes typically develop the disease in their childhood, teen years or young adulthood. Type 1 diabetes requires regular blood sugar checks and insulin shots every day. People with Type 1 diabetes can also wear an insulin pump to help manage blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that develops when the body can’t make enough insulin or use insulin well. Around 90 percent of people who have diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. People with Type 2 diabetes also need to complete regular blood sugar checks. Your health care provider might prescribe insulin or a diabetes medication such as metformin.
People who take metformin don’t have to worry about the medication causing heart failure. According to a study published in Cardiovascular Diabetology, metformin does not cause heart problems and may actually reduce them. On the other hand, as researchers learn more about insulin, they are discovering that the medication may have harmful cardiovascular side effects.
What Diabetes Does to Your Heart
High blood sugar affects your heart by damaging the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. As time goes by, this damage can lead to clogged arteries and the development of heart disease. People with diabetes develop clogged arteries because diabetes causes inflammation of blood vessels and slows blood flow.
Up to 80% of people with Type 2 diabetes also have high blood pressure. There are typically no symptoms associated with high blood pressure, so the only way to know if you have it is to get your blood pressure checked by a health care provider. High blood pressure can lead to stroke or heart disease if left untreated.
Your cholesterol levels reveal how much low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) you have in your body. HDL is considered good because it removes cholesterol in the arteries. LDL is known as bad cholesterol because it causes blockage in the arteries. Diabetes lowers HDL levels and raises LDL levels, increasing your risk for heart disease. There are also no symptoms of high cholesterol. The only way to get diagnosed is to have a blood test.
The Symptoms of Diabetic Heart Disease
When a person has diabetes alongside heart disease, it’s referred to as diabetic heart disease. Having diabetes enhances your risk of developing heart disease or experiencing stroke, so people living with diabetes need to consider their heart health along with their blood sugar level.
Symptoms of diabetic heart disease include, but are not limited to:
- Arrhythmia
- Breathing difficulties
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- Swollen ankles or feet
Everyone’s symptoms will vary so it’s important to speak with your provider about any concerns you have.
Risk Factors for Diabetes
Experts aren’t certain as to what causes Type 1 diabetes, but some risk factors include age or having an immediate family member with the condition.
You are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes, are overweight or obese, or if you have an immediate family member with Type 2 diabetes. You are also more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes if you are older than 45, exercise less than three times per week, or if you had gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Some ethnicities are also more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, such as people of African descent, American Indian, Hispanic or Latino, Alaska Native and some Asian American or Pacific Islander people.
How to Prevent Diabetes and Heart Disease
Unfortunately, there isn’t currently a way to prevent Type 1 diabetes. However, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by making some lifestyle changes.
Here are some steps to prevent Type 2 diabetes:
- Eat well. Build a diet for heart health that is full of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat or fat-free dairy and whole grains. Avoid foods with added sugar, trans and saturated fats and processed foods.
- Exercise. Current exercise recommendations from the American Heart Association are at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, or a combination of the two. Aerobic activity is anything that gets your heart rate up, such as walking, cycling or swimming. Try to also fit in two days of strength training per week.
- Lose weight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, weight loss of just 5 percent can help reverse prediabetes.
- Stop smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you need help to quit smoking, University of Maryland Medical System provides tobacco use prevention and cessation classes.
If you already have diabetes, there are still steps you can take to prevent or slow heart disease. These steps include:
- Control your blood sugar levels
- Practice heart healthy habits, such as eating healthy, managing stress, exercising, getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy weight and controlling your blood pressure
- Take any medications prescribed by your health care provider
More to Read
- How to Avoid Heart Disease
- Heart Complications Don’t Discriminate by Age
- 4 Practical Tips for Reducing Your Heart Disease Risk
- It’s Time to Get Moving: How to Exercise for Heart Health
Medically reviewed by Angela Ginn Meadow, RN, RDN, CDCES, Program Director, Baltimore Metropolitan Diabetes Regional Partnership, University of Maryland Medical Center.
