Many people with diabetes do not realize that having diabetes increases their chances of having a heart attack or stroke. According to the American Heart Association, at least 68 percent of people aged 65 and older with diabetes die from some form of heart disease and 16 percent die of stroke. Heart disease death rates among adults with diabetes are two to four times higher than the rates for adults without diabetes.
A history of heart disease in your family increases your risk, leading to death in two out of every six people with diabetes. Even more distressing is the burden of heart disease among children with diabetes who are likely to show signs of heart disease before the onset of puberty.
While you can’t change the fact that diabetes or heart disease runs in your family, there are ways to ward off the damage. Research shows that people with diabetes can lower their risk for heart disease and other heart problems by managing the ABCs of diabetes—A1C, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol—and Stopping Smoking.
A is for the A1C test. The A1C test—also called the hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, or glycohemoglobin test—shows how much glucose is attached to hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Typically, red blood cells live for about three months. So, the A1C test is reflective of your average blood glucose (blood sugar) level over the past three months.
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The higher your A1C number, the higher your blood glucose levels have been during the past three months. Elevated levels of blood glucose can harm your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, feet, and eyes.
The A1C goal for many people with diabetes is below 7 percent. However, depending on your diabetes history and general health your goal may be different. You should discuss your A1C target with your health care provider.
B is for blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of your blood against the wall of your blood vessels. If you have high blood pressure, your heart must work harder to pump blood. High blood pressure can strain your heart, damage blood vessels, and increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, eye problems, and kidney problems.
The American Diabetes Association recommends a target blood pressure level of 140/90 mm Hg for most adults with diabetes.
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C is for cholesterol. Ninety-five percent of people with diabetes have some abnormal levels of cholesterol. There are two kinds of cholesterol in your blood: LDL and HDL. LDL or low-density lipoprotein is the “bad” cholesterol. Too much of it can cause a heart attack or stroke. HDL or high-density lipoprotein is the “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps remove the “bad” cholesterol from your blood vessels.
Another type of blood fat, triglycerides, also can raise your risk of heart disease when the levels are higher than recommended by your health care team. The combination of high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol is most common in people with diabetes.
S is for stop smoking. Your risk for getting heart disease doubles if you are a smoker. Both smoking and diabetes narrow blood vessels and increases your risk of other long term complications, such as eye disease and amputations.
Keeping blood glucose levels close to normal and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol can lower your risk for heart disease and other heart problems. Ask your health care team about your goals for A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and what you can do to reach these goals.
Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, national speaker and author of The African American Guide to Living Well with Diabetes.. She is a Dannon One Yogurt Every Day Nutrition Advisor.
