Simple steps to lower your risk of diabetes-related heart disease

In Canada, there are over 3.5 million people living with type 2 diabetes, for whom heart disease is the most common cause of death. Unfortunately, people with diabetes are over three times more likely to be hospitalized for heart-related problems and may develop heart disease 10 to 15 years earlier than those without diabetes.

Someone can develop heart disease when the heart or blood vessels supplying blood to the heart have been damaged – a common risk for people managing diabetes. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor about your heart health and learn about the treatments available and simple steps you can take to lower your risk.

Some of the things Diabetes Canada recommends people with diabetes do to reduce their risk of heart disease include:

• Aiming for good blood pressure control
• Controlling cholesterol levels
• Reducing or eliminating smoking
• Using treatments to protect complications related to the heart

Having diabetes alone is a major risk factor for heart disease, and one in two people with diabetes will die from heart disease. In addition to diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, smoking and poor nutrition are all risk factors for heart disease. The more of these factors you have, the higher your risk is for developing heart disease.

Fortunately, there are new medications that, along with diet and exercise, have been proven to lower the risk of dying from problems related to your heart and blood vessels.

Speak to your doctor about new treatments available to help reduce your risk.  And take a risk assessment at myheartmatters.ca.