Diabetes and Heart Disease
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- Diabetes and Heart Disease
Can diabetes cause heart disease?
Yes. If you have diаbеtes, you have an increased risk of something called “coronary artery disease.” This is when the arteries that supply blood to the heart get clogged with fatty deposits.
Coronary artery disease increases your risk for serious problems like heart attack and strokе. But there are things that you can do to help lower this risk.
Is there a test for heart disease?
If you have ԁiаbetеѕ, your doctor will do regular blood tests to check your:
- Blood sugar
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol levels
They might also do other tests to check your heart. These include:
Еlеϲtrοϲarԁiοgrаm ("ЕCG")
This test measures the electrical activity in your heart.
Echocardiogram
This test uses sound waves to create an image of your heart as it beats.
Stress test
This is also called an exercise test. You might be asked to run or walk on a treadmill while you also have an ECG. Physical activity increases the heart's need for blood. This test helps doctors see if your heart is getting enough blood. If you cannot walk or run, your doctor might give you a medicine to make your heart pump faster.
What can I do on my own to protect my heart?
If you have ԁiabеtеs, there are things you can do to lower your risk of heart disease. If you already have heart disease, these things can also help keep it from getting worse.
You should:
- Manage your blood sugar – This includes taking your ԁiabеtеs medicines as instructed.
- Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol – High blood pressure or cholesterol increases your risk of heart attack or ѕtrоke. Improving your diet and exercise habits can help with this, too. Your doctor might also prescribe medicines.
- Take aspirin, if your doctor recommends it. If you have coronary artery disease or had a heart attack or ѕtrоke, your doctor might prescribe daily low-dose aspirin. Some people also take another medicine to help prevent blood clots.
- Make lifestyle changes, like:
- Eating healthy food
- Getting regular physical activity
- Quitting smoking, if you smoke
- Losing weight, if you have excess body weight
- Limiting alcohol
- Getting enough sleep
What other treatment might I have?
If medicines alone do not work, some people with heart disease also need a procedure. Examples include:
Stenting
The doctor puts a thin plastic tube into the blocked artery, and uses a tiny balloon to open the blockage. Then, they place a tiny mesh tube called a “stent” inside the artery to hold it open. The doctor prescribes medicines to prevent blood clots from forming in the stent.
Bypass surgery
This is also known as “coronary artery bypass grafting” (“CABG”). The doctor removes a piece of blood vessel from another part of the body. Then, they reattach the blood vessel above and below the area that is clogged. This reroutes blood around the clog and lets it get to the part of the heart that was not getting blood.
If you need treatment for heart disease, your doctor will talk to you about your options.