Cardiovascular Disease
Diabetes can damage the large blood vessels (called arteries) that surround the heart and carry blood to all parts of your body. The damaged areas of the blood vessels tend to trap cholesterol from the blood. In time, the large vessels become blocked. The heart has to work much harder to pump blood through the clogged vessels. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and poor circulation to the arms, legs and head.
Heart and blood
vessel damage can happen to people who don't have diabetes. But
these problems happen three times more often and at earlier ages
in people with diabetes.
Symptoms
Of Cardiovascular Disease
Causes
Of Cardiovascular Disease
Prevention
Of Cardiovascular Disease
Symptoms Of Cardiovascular Disease
The following symptoms could point to heart and blood vessel damage:
- dizzy spells
- chest pain or pressure
- slow healing of cuts and sores
- numbness or weakness in an arm or leg
- leg cramps (may go away with rest)
- swollen ankles
- shortness of breath
- irregular
heartbeats
NOTE: These symptoms could be caused by other medical conditions besides blood vessel damage.
Causes Of Cardiovascular Disease
Some possible causes may be:
- Blood fats (especially cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) tend to be high when blood sugar levels are high. This increases the chance for blood vessel damage and heart attacks.
- High blood pressure (more common in people with diabetes) also causes damage to the blood vessels.
- Smoking can cause narrowing of the blood vessels when you inhale - making it harder for the blood to flow. Nicotine makes the heart work harder, beat faster, and require more oxygen.
Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease
See your doctor
and diabetes healthcare team every 3-4 months to monitor your diabetes
and any other problems. Tell your doctor about any problems, such
as shortness of breath, chest pains, dizzy spells, etc. Ask for
a yearly ECG (electrocardiogram) to monitor your heart.
Discuss with your doctor or diabetes healthcare team ways to:
- lower blood sugar levels and hemoglobin A1c to normal range
- lower your blood pressure, if high, to an acceptable range, below 130/85 mm Hg
- lower your blood fat levels (cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides) to a normal range through diet, exercise and/or appropriate medication:
- stop smoking
- exercise daily
- learn to handle stress in your life
- lose weight and remain within a desirable range
Cholesterol desirable is less than 4.0 mmol/L
Bad Cholesterol (LDL : Low-density Lipoproteins) is less than 2.5 mmol/L
Good Cholesterol (HDL : High-density Lipoproteins) is more than 1.0 mmol/L
Triglycerides is less than 2.0 mmol/L
(MJA;Nov 5,175,Suppl,2001)
View our interactive Cardiovascular Disease Presentation.