Having type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing heart
disease, or cardiovascular disease1-3. Because of this
link, there are many things you can do to lower your risk of heart
disease by managing your type 2 diabetes.
Maria Luísa de Araúja
Maria is living with type 2 diabetes
Portugal
Unsure where to start? Download our conversation guide to know more.
The higher your body mass index (BMI), the greater the
likelihood of developing heart disease risk factors4. If
you are overweight, try to get down to a healthy weight.
Eating foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar and salt can
increase your risk of heart disease5. Following a balanced
diet can help you better manage your blood sugar, cholesterol, blood
pressure and weight, which are all risk factors of heart disease.
Try to eat:
Vegetables and fruits
Wholegrain options of bread,
pasta and rice
Some fish, meat and eggs and other non-dairy
sources of proteins
Less red meat and more fish
Some dairy products, such as milk and cheese
Limited
amounts of fatty and sugary foods and drinks
Try to avoid:
Foods that are high in salt, which can increase your blood
pressure5
Foods and beverages with a lot of added
sugar6
Food with high levels of saturated fat
(commonly found in animal products) and trans fats (typically found
in fried food, cakes and sweet treats), especially in large
amounts5
Large amounts of alcohol5
Get active
In addition to following a balanced diet, increasing your level of
physical activity can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight7.
Physical activity can help improve the following conditions, which
also helps reduce your risk of developing heart disease:
Blood pressure
Blood lipid (blood fat) levels
The health of your heart and blood vessels
The ability
to use insulin to lower your blood sugar
Diabetes experts recommend doing aerobic exercise (raising your
heart and breathing rate) for a total of 150 minutes each week.
Stop smoking
Stopping smoking is one way to cut your risk of developing heart
disease and improve your overall health8. In fact, 11 years
after you stop, your risk will be the same as that of a person with
type 2 diabetes who does not smoke9.
There are many support programmes available to help you stop smoking
for good. Talk to your doctor about ways to help you stop smoking to
reduce your heart disease risk.
When diet and exercise are not enough, you may need to take
medication to manage your type 2 diabetes10. It is
important to take your medication as agreed with your doctor to manage
your blood sugar levels over time, while also helping to prevent any
potential damage to your blood vessels. Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong
disease and managing it today will help you in the long-term.
Take your diabetes medications as agreed with your doctor
Monitor and record your blood sugar levels
Regularly monitoring and recording your blood sugar levels is one way
to effectively control your type 2 diabetes, while also managing your
overall heart disease risk6. Try using a diabetes
monitoring diary to record your blood sugar levels.
In addition, it is important that you visit your doctor regularly to
have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked. This will
help you and your doctor better manage your overall risk of heart disease.
Talk to your doctor about heart disease
Your doctor can help you identify which lifestyle choices and
treatments can benefit your type 2 diabetes and lower your risk for
heart attack and stroke. Print out this quick guide to get an idea of the right
questions you can ask your doctor at your next scheduled appointment.
References
Martín-Timón I, Sevillano-Collantes C, Segura-Galindo A, et al.
Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: Have all risk factors
the same strength? World J Diabetes. 2014;5:444-470.
Lüscher TF, Creager MA, Beckman JA, et al. Diabetes and vascular
disease: pathophysiology, clinical consequences, and medical
therapy: Part II. Circulation. 2003;108:1655-1661.
Marso
SP, Nauck MA, Monk Fries T, et al. Myocardial Infarction Subtypes in
Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Effect of Liraglutide
Therapy (from the LEADER Trial). Am J Cardiol.
2018;121:1467-1470.
Held, et al. Body Mass Index and
Association With Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Stable
Coronary Heart Disease – A STABILITY Substudy. JAHA. 2022; 11.
CDC. Know Your Risk for Heart Disease. Available from:
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/risk_factors.htm#:~:text=Eating%20a%20diet%20high%20in,diet%20can%20raise%20blood%20pressure.
Last accessed: March 2024.
Diabetes UK. Diabetes and Heart
Disease. Available from:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications/cardiovascular_disease.
Last accessed: March 2024.
CDC. Benefits of Physical
Activity. Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm#:~:text=To%20maintain%20your%20weight%3A%20Work,they%20need%20for%20weight%20management.
Last accessed: March 2024.
Gallucci G, et al.
Cardiovascular risk of smoking and benefits of smoking cessation. J
Thorac Dis. 2020 Jul;12(7):3866-3876.
Maddatu J,
Anderson-Baucum E, Evans-Molina C. Smoking and the risk of type 2
diabetes. Transl Res. 2017 Jun;184:101-107.
Committee
ADAPP. 9. Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards
of Care in Diabetes—2024. Diabetes Care. 2023;47:S158-S178. doi:
10.2337/dc24-S009
HQ23DI00447
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