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Type 2 diabetes is closely linked to heart health. When left unmanaged, it can lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular-related events, such as a heart attack or stroke. However, knowing how diabetes affects your risk can help you take proactive steps to protect your heart.
1. Damages Blood Vessels
Having high blood sugar over time can cause damage to the blood vessels, as well as the nerves that regulate your heart and blood vessels. Over time, this damage can cause heart disease, raising your risk of heart attack and stroke.
The good news: Keeping your blood sugar within your target range as much as possible can help protect your blood vessels and reduce your risk of heart disease.
2. Causes Inflammation In the Body
Diabetes is associated with inflammation throughout the body. Having this inflammation for a long time starts to cause damage in the blood vessels, which makes it more likely for plaque to build up. Over time, the plaque becomes hardened, causing the arteries to narrow. This affects blood flow to the heart and other organs.
You can manage inflammation by controlling your blood sugar, making lifestyle changes, and taking your medications as directed.
3. Raises Blood Pressure
Diabetes causes kidney scarring, which leads to salt and water retention and eventual high blood pressure (hypertension). Blood vessel damage, as mentioned above, also contributes to high blood pressure.
People who have both diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) have about twice the risk of heart attack and stroke, when compared to people who have high blood pressure but do not have diabetes.
You can take steps to control your blood pressure by following a healthy diet with limited salt, exercising regularly, and taking your blood pressure medication as prescribed.
4. Causes High Cholesterol
Having diabetes can lower your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol and increase your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides. This is called diabetic dyslipidemia, and it raises your risk of heart disease and stroke. Studies have found that this can even occur before an official diagnosis of diabetes.
Talk to your healthcare provider about steps you can take to control your cholesterol levels, such as dietary changes, increased exercise, and taking cholesterol-lowering medication.
5. Increases Risk of Obesity
About 86% of people with type 2 diabetes have obesity or are overweight. Having obesity is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. This happens when arteries narrow and reduce the movement of blood and oxygen to the heart. This can lead to a heart attack.
Losing 5% to 10% of body weight can significantly improve heart health. Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to accomplish this goal, such as through dietary changes, exercise, and possibly medication.
6. Can Damage the Kidneys
Kidney damage is one of the long-term complications of diabetes. Having high blood sugar for an extended period can lead to damage to the blood vessels and other small structures in the kidneys, as well as kidney failure. People with diabetes and high blood pressure can also have kidney damage, as mentioned above.
Having kidney disease increases your risk of heart disease, and vice versa.
You can take steps to protect your kidney health by keeping your blood sugar under control, managing protein intake, and taking medications that help manage your blood pressure. Talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
7. Increases the Risk of Blood Clots
People with diabetes are more likely to have heart disease and blood clots, which can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Up to 80% of people with diabetes are considered at risk of dying due to a clot-related cause, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).
There are ways to reduce your risk of blood clots if you have diabetes. Keeping your blood sugar in range, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and avoiding smoking and vaping can help lower your risk.
8. Increases the Risk of Heart Failure
Heart failure can happen when the heart cannot pump blood forcefully enough, causing symptoms like fluid retention, difficulty breathing, and fatigue.
People with diabetes are more than twice as likely to develop heart failure and have worse outcomes in terms of hospitalization and prognosis.
You can reduce your risk of heart failure by maintaining a healthy hemoglobin A1C level, taking your medication as prescribed, following a balanced diet, and engaging in regular exercise.
