Diabetes and heart disease go hand in hand.  For many that have diabetes, the risk for heart disease increases considerably.  There is a link between these two things and you should be well aware of it if you are at risk of having diabetes or you already do have it.  Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not regulate sugars properly.  Yet, in addition to this problem, most of those that have diabetes also have additional health problems that add up to trouble for your heart.

If you have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, you are taxing your heart’s ability to pump.  With cholesterol, for example, your heart’s valves will be filled with plagues that are caused by the build up of cholesterol.  As this builds up, less and less blood can flow through the heart easily.  The end result is that the heart can’t get enough oxygen rich blood throughout the body and you can suffer a heart attack.  Since virtually all people that have diabetes have this very high level of cholesterol, you are at a significant risk.

If you have diabetes, you are likely to die because of heart disease.  More than 65 percent of those that have diabetes do end up from heart disease or stroke, both of which are caused by your condition.  The good news is that you can effectively manage your diabetes and pay attention to the risk factors in relation to heart disease and change them.  Monitoring high blood pressure and high cholesterol can help keep you from becoming a victim of heart disease.

By making the connection now and understanding what your risk factors are in heart disease you will be well on your way to improving your lifestyle and improving your overall chance of surviving.  Reduce your risk by knowing how diabetes correlates with the risks of heart disease.

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