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Protecting Your Heart and Blood Vessels: Why Diabetes Management Matters More Than Ever
We’re seeing a troubling trend across the country. Over the last couple of decades, an increasing share of people in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes at a younger age.
That’s an issue because the longer you live with this blood sugar problem, the more time it has to create complications. Today, we want to focus on one problem in particular: how diabetes impacts your heart and blood vessels.
With more people being diagnosed younger, it’s more important than ever to know how to protect your cardiovascular system.
Our providers help patients manage diabetes at our offices in Covington, Franklinton, and Hammond, Louisiana. To avoid heart-related complications from this condition, visit us at Louisiana Heart and Vascular Institute.
How diabetes affects your heart and blood vessels
In their guide to diabetes and the heart, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights some key facts. First, having diabetes doubles your risk of heart disease. Second, having diabetes for a longer period makes you more likely to experience heart problems.
Diabetes can spell heart and blood vessel problems because of the heightened levels of blood sugar it causes. Over time, excess blood sugar can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that help your heart function.
Diabetes also puts you at a higher risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, making you more likely to experience heart disease.
Fortunately, if you have diabetes, you can take steps to lower your risk of heart and blood vessel problems.
What you can do to protect your heart
To protect your heart health, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends learning your ABCs.
A stands for your A1C test, which shows your blood glucose levels over the last three months. That gives you a way to track the level of risk for your heart and blood vessels.
B stands for blood pressure. Too much pressure puts excess strain on the walls of your blood vessels. We can test your blood pressure at our office, or you can buy a blood pressure monitor to use at home.
C stands for cholesterol. Fatty buildup in your blood vessels puts added strain on your body. We can perform periodic testing to evaluate your cholesterol levels.
S stands for stop smoking. Smoking takes a toll on your heart and blood vessels, something you certainly don’t need when diabetes is already in play.
Fortunately, many of the changes we recommend making for diabetes in general help with not just your blood sugar levels, but also your blood pressure and cholesterol. Those include:
- Eating more fruits and vegetables
- Exercising more frequently
- Reaching or maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing stress
We can also recommend targeted treatments to control your blood sugar levels. Options such as oral diabetes medication, insulin injections, or an insulin pump can help you reduce your risk of heart and blood vessel complications.
Don’t let diabetes strain your body’s critical systems. For a personalized diabetes management plan, call Louisiana Heart and Vascular Institute or schedule an appointment online today.
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