It is common knowledge that diabetes and heart diseases are two of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, and diabetes affects over 420 million people worldwide.

But did you know that diabetes and heart diseases are closely related and that people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing heart disease than those without diabetes?

What is Heart Disease?

The term “cardiovascular disease” can include all kinds of heart disease, stroke, and blood vessel disease, but the most common is coronary artery disease, which affects the blood flow to your heart. It is caused when plaque builds up in the walls of your coronary arteries, and in the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Eventually, it can cause a heart attack or a stroke.

Diabetes and Heart Disease: The Link

Year after year, statistics have shown that people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing heart diseases than people without diabetes. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart diseases than adults without diabetes. That means if you have diabetes, you are at least twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke than someone who doesn’t. The risk of developing diabetes actually increases the longer you have had diabetes. Moreover, heart disease is also the leading cause of death among people with diabetes, accounting for 70% of deaths in people with diabetes.

High Blood Sugar Levels and Heart Disease

One of the main reasons why people with diabetes are at higher risk of developing heart disease is their high blood sugar levels. When a person has diabetes, their body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin effectively (insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy). As a result, people with diabetes have high levels of glucose in their blood, which can damage their blood vessels and organs over time. High blood sugar levels can also lead to atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries become narrowed and hardened, increasing the risk of heart disease. Additionally, diabetes can also make you more likely to develop heart failure, which is when your heart cannot pump blood well, your legs swell up, and fluid builds up in your lungs, making it hard to breathe.

Other Risk Factors for Heart Disease in People with Diabetes

Besides high blood sugar levels, people with diabetes are also at risk of developing other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels (LDL), high triglycerides, and obesity. These risk factors can further increase the risk of developing heart disease. And what’s scarier is that these conditions don’t even have any symptoms. Therefore, it is essential for people with diabetes to manage these risk factors by following a healthy lifestyle and taking medications if necessary.

The Importance of Managing Diabetes for Heart Health

Managing diabetes is crucial for maintaining a healthy heart. By keeping their blood sugar levels under control, people with diabetes can reduce their risk of developing heart disease. Lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, and reducing stress, can also help manage diabetes and reduce the risk of heart diseases. Moreover, medications such as statins, ACE inhibitors, and aspirin can be prescribed to manage high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Preventing Diabetes and Heart Diseases

Prevention is the best way to reduce the risk of developing heart disease in people with diabetes. Lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and quitting smoking, can help prevent both diabetes and heart diseases. Moreover, screening for diabetes and treating it early can help prevent complications such as heart disease.

Diabetes and heart diseases are closely related, and people with diabetes are certainly at a higher risk of developing heart diseases than those without diabetes. This is because high blood sugar levels, as well as other risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, increase the risk of heart disease in people with diabetes. Therefore, managing diabetes through lifestyle changes and medications is crucial for your heart’s health. Preventing diabetes and heart disease through healthy lifestyle choices is probably the best way to reduce the risk of developing heart diseases in people with diabetes. If you have diabetes, by taking these steps, you can reduce your risk of developing heart disease, and you, too, can live a healthy, fulfilling life.