Smart strategies preventing heart disease in Type 2 diabetes

The moment a person is given a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, their risk for heart disease goes up. Heart disease is common in people with diabetes as the risk of heart disease death and stroke are twice as high in people with diabetes as people without the disease. Data from the American Heart Association from 2012 showed 65% of people with type 2 diabetes are more likely to die from some sort of heart disease or stroke over their lifetime.

Each one of us is at risk of developing heart disease but the condition is much more common in those with type 2 diabetes. In fact, heart disease is the number one cause of death among those with type 2 diabetes.

Here are statistics from the American Heart Association demonstrating the strong correlation between cardiovascular disease and diabetes:

·      At least 68% of people age 65 and older with diabetes die from some form of heart disease and 16% will die from stroke.

·      Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes

·      The American Heart Association considers diabetes to be one of the seven major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Why does diabetes increase a person’s risk for heart disease?

The goal for people with diabetes to constantly strive for is to keep their blood glucose levels under control by keeping them within a healthy range throughout each day. This can help reduce the development of heart disease but there are other factors or conditions someone with type 2 diabetes may have that can also be a contributing risk factor for developing heart disease:

·      High blood pressure – This is a major contributor to heart disease. Studies have shown a positive association between high blood pressure and insulin resistance. When a person has both high blood pressure and diabetes, this doubles their risk for cardiovascular disease.

·      High cholesterol and triglyceride levels – When blood lipid levels are abnormal – high LDL (bad) cholesterol, low HDL (good) cholesterol, and high triglycerides – this triad of poor lipid counts is characteristic of a condition called dyslipidemia which increases the risk of heart disease.

·      Obesity – Many people with diabetes tend to be overweight to obese. Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease and has been strongly association with insulin resistance.

·      Lack of physical activity – The less a person moves throughout the day, the less calories they will burn usually resulting in excess weight gain. Carrying extra pounds plus not exercising the heart muscle with physical activity, sets up a scenario for increasing heart disease.

·      Poorly controlled blood glucose – When blood glucose levels are frequently out of range, this can do significant damage to the vessels and arteries leading to the heart.

·      Smoking – Anyone who smokes is significantly contributing to their risk of heart disease.  Smoking causes an instant and long-term increase in heart rate, it reduces blood flow from the heart, reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the body’s tissues and increases the risk for blood clots.

Best ways to prevent heart disease in Type 2 diabetes

To help reduce the risk of heart disease in anyone with Type 2 diabetes, it takes a multifaceted approach of a combination of exercise, nutrition, and weight management. Managing blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar levels are also very important factors in preventing heart disease.

Here are lifestyle strategies that can have a positive impact on reducing heart disease in anyone with Type 2 diabetes:

·      Follow a Mediterranean-style diet along with carbohydrate counting.  Everyone receiving a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes should be referred to a registered dietitian for educational training and instruction on how to make smart food choices to control and manage their diabetes.

·      Become physically active.  Ask your doctor about any physical limitation you may have.  If it has been awhile since participating in a regular exercise program, start off slowly.  Eventually work up to at least 150 minutes each week of moderate-intensity physical activity, spread out over at least three or more days a week.  Consider physical activity such as walking, jogging, swimming, bicycling, tennis, or any other form you enjoy doing.

·      If you smoke, take steps to stop.

·      Monitor blood glucose levels daily keeping a daily log of your numbers. The goal is to maintain an A1C level of 6.5 percent or less. Discuss with your doctor to see what goal they recommend for you.

·      Manage blood pressure by following the DASH diet.  Avoid foods with more than 200 mg of sodium per serving – consume more fruits, vegetables, lean meat, low-fat dairy and whole grains.

·      If overweight to obese, set a goal to lose at least 5-7 percent of your current body weight by making healthy food choices, reducing portion sizes and increasing exercise.  Over time, strive to reach a more healthy body weight for your height and age.

·      Manage blood lipids levels by choosing lean cuts of meat, increasing fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, consuming more fruits and vegetables, and reducing intake of sugary foods and beverages, and fried foods.

·      Aspirin therapy may be advised for anyone over the age of 50 and with at least one cardiovascular risk factor and with no increased gastrointestinal bleeding risk.

Before making any medication or lifestyle changes, all people with Type 2 diabetes should ask and review these changes with their doctor first.