Women should know heart, diabetes risks - Diabetic Hear...

Women should know heart, diabetes risks

Women should know heart, diabetes risks
February 01. 2009
thedailytimes.com

Since February is American Heart Month, it may seem like an unusual time to talk about diabetes. But for women in particular, understanding the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease could help prevent a heart attack or stroke.

Registered nurse and certified diabetes educator at the Blount Memorial Weight Management Center Dawn Hollaway says heart attacks and strokes occur two to four times more among women with diabetes and account for 65 percent of deaths among diabetes patients. "Cardiovascular disease is the most costly complication of diabetes and a major factor in loss of quality of life among diabetics. If a woman with diabetes also smokes, that doubles her risk for heart attack and stroke when compared to women with diabetes who do not smoke."

Diabetes is such a strong risk factor for heart attack, in fact, that diabetic women without known heart disease are at equal risk as non-diabetic women who have already had a heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, pre-menopausal women typically have fewer heart attacks than men of similar ages. For women with diabetes, however, the heart attack rates practically mirror those of men the same age.

Women with type 2, or adult onset, diabetes typically share a number of risk factors related to heart-related health problems. These include but are not limited to high blood pressure; high LDL, or bad, cholesterol; low HDL, or good, cholesterol; high triglycerides; smoking; obesity and lack of physical activity. In addition, diabetes causes high levels of sugar to build up in the bloodstream. Uncontrolled high blood sugar can damage small blood vessels throughout the body, as well as the large vessels in the heart.

All women can lower their risk for diabetes and heart disease, says Holloway, and women who already have been diagnosed with diabetes can reduce their chance for developing heart-related health issues. "Maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking and exercise on a regular basis. In addition, do some form of cardiovascular activity for at least 30-45 minutes, four to five times per week. Adding weight training two to three times a week can lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol."

Hollaway explains that making healthy nutritional choices is particularly important for women with diabetes and can help non-diabetics prevent future medical problems. "Eating healthy is a key to maintaining blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as well as blood pressure," Holloway says. "Diabetics need to increase monounsaturated, or healthy fats, in their diet and decrease their intake of carbohydrates and saturated, or unhealthy fats."

Women who experience symptoms of severe increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger or tingling of the hands or feet are encouraged to ask their physician about testing for diabetes. For a physician referral, call the Blount Memorial HEALTHLINE at 981-3983.

Women who have been diagnosed with diabetes can help lower their risk for heart disease by participating in the education and nutritional programs offered through the diabetes management component of the Blount Memorial Weight Management Center. For information, call 977-5767.

The Women's Health column is provided by the staff and associates of Blount Memorial Hospital. It appears every Sunday in Women's Times. For more information on this column call 983-7211.