Diabetes and Heart Failure: What You Need to Know - Hea...

Diabetes and Heart Failure: What You Need to Know

Diabetes and Heart Failure: What You Need to Know
by Diabetic Seniors Team

Here’s a sobering fact: Diabetes is among the top three causes of heart failure. And if you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke as someone who does not have diabetes. Heart disease may also develop at an earlier age in diabetics. Worse yet, heart attacks in people with diabetes are more serious and more likely to result in death.

Bottom line: diabetes and heart failure is serious business.

What You Can Do

Fortunately, diabetic heart diseasze management has come a long way. Even if you are at high risk for diabetes heart disease, you can take steps to help keep your heart and blood vessels healthy.

Follow a “heart-healthy” diet. Many of the dietary guidelines for managing your diabetes are also smart for diabetic heart disease management. Aim for a sensible diet that meets these goals:

* Get at least 14 grams of fiber every day for each 1,000 calories that you consume. Foods high in fiber may help lower blood cholesterol, which can help prevent diabetes heart disease. Good sources of fiber include oatmeal, whole-grain breads and cereals, dried beans and peas, fruits and vegetables. As an added benefit, the soluble fiber in fruits, vegetables and grains can help slow down the absorption of glucose into your bloodstream.
* Cut down on saturated fat. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you get less than 10 percent of your daily calories from saturated fats, which are found in fatty meats, whole dairy products, poultry skin, and palm and coconut oil.
* Keep the cholesterol in your diet to less than 300 milligrams a day. Cholesterol is found in meat, dairy products and eggs.
* Keep the amount of trans fat (which raises blood cholesterol) to a minimum. This fat is found in processed foods, such as snack foods, cake mixes, microwave popcorn, fried foods, salad dressings and other foods made with partially hydrogenated oil.

Get off the couch! Good diabetic heart disease management includes at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. And your exercise doesn't have to be hours spent at the gym. Many everyday activities count as moderate exercise, including:

* Gardening for 30 to 45 minutes
* Stairwalking for 15 minutes
* Washing and waxing the car for 60 minutes

As an added benefit, exercise helps insulin work better while reducing your blood glucose levels. If you haven’t been physically active recently, see your doctor for a checkup before you start an exercise program.

Don’t smoke. The impact of smoking on diabetes and heart disease cannot be overemphasized. Both smoking and diabetes narrow blood vessels. Smoking doubles your risk of getting heart disease and increases the risk of other long-term complications, such as eye problems. If you are concerned about diabetes and heart failure, ask your doctor to help you find a way to quit smoking.

Know the warning signs. It’s important to know the common signs and symptoms of heart disease, including:

* Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
* Feeling tired
* Swelling in the ankles, feet and legs

Ask about aspirin. Studies have shown that taking a low dose of aspirin every day can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Ask your doctor if this may be right for you.

As you can see, diabetes and heart failure often go hand in hand. Take steps now to keep your heart healthy — and your diabetes under control.

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