Type 2 Diabetes - The Relationship Between Diabetes and Heart Attacks

You may think you have one disease...Type 2 diabetes. But not managed correctly, it's possible to end up with a whole host of other health issues. People diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are automatically considered high risk candidates for heart attacks. The American Diabetes Association reports diabetics are three times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than adults without diabetes. Cardiovascular disease can cause strokes and heart attacks.

Why are Type 2 diabetics so prone to these health issues?

Obese or overweight people are more prone to developing Type 2 diabetes than people of a healthy weight. Normally, the beta cells of the pancreas create and secrete insulin to enable blood glucose or blood sugar to fuel the body's cells. People who eat a diet high in sugars, fats and starches continually place sugar into both their digestive system and bloodstream. There is a constant influx of sugar that never gets a chance to clear out for long periods and eventually the pancreas cannot keep up with the supply of insulin.

Excess sugar in your bloodstream attaches onto proteins all over your body and damages them. These damaged proteins are called advanced glycation end products or AGEs. Although everyone receives AGE damage as they age, out-of-control diabetics get it much earlier and at a higher rate. The accumulation of these AGEs in your tissues causes many of the complications of diabetes. They cause inflammation that can trigger clogged arteries leading to heart disease and erectile dysfunction, and also damage:

• the eye
• nerves, and the
• kidneys.

Obese and overweight people are also prone to high blood pressure, heart attacks and heart disease. The heart and circulatory system needs to work harder to pump blood in a body with layers of excess fat. Eating a high-fat diet can not only cause more fat storage in the body, but also narrows blood vessels. If a blood vessel is completely blocked, a heart attack or stroke will occur.

Preventing Heart Attacks for Diabetics:

Heart disease and stroke are caused by clogged arteries which are the blood vessels carrying oxygen to the heart as well as the brain, and other areas of the body. Diabetes puts you at three times the risk for developing these conditions.

Suffering a heart attack is not inevitable for all Type 2 diabetics if they manage to follow a healthy diet, lose weight, and follow their doctor's instructions.

1. Quit smoking: Quitting smoking is one way for diabetics to raise their chances of not suffering a heart attack. Smoking slows down the body's metabolism and dulls the taste buds, making only foods high in sugar and salt tasty enough for a smoker to detect.

2. Cholesterol checks: Diabetics should regularly get cholesterol level checks, even if they are able to lose weight and keep it off. High cholesterol levels can be successfully managed through diet and medication.

3. Blood Pressure: Diabetics need their blood pressure checked at least bi-monthly in order to help monitor how hard their hearts are working.

Having both your blood cholesterol and blood pressure checked regularly, you should be able to pick up any early warning signs of heart disease and stroke.

Having a heart attack does not have to be a foregone conclusion for every diabetic person. The earlier a person changes their negative lifestyle habits, the better their chances of turning things around. The body can be very forgiving when issues are caught early and treated. The key is to understand the seriousness of it and make those changes.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

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