Does Diabetes Affect Your Heart?

Many Americans have diabetes secondary to a poor diet and lack of exercise. Although various forms exist, the condition not only influences how the body processes sugar but also impacts other essential systems. Diabetes can affect insulin and blood glucose levels, leading to spikes or severe drops for people whose condition isn’t well-managed. Since a cure isn’t currently available, experts focus on a patient’s regular habits, as well as receiving consistent medical care to keep the condition under control. Diabetics play an active role in condition management, but working with a diabetes care team is also essential to slow or prevent disease progression.

Explaining diabetic care teams

Even without a cure, when well-managed, diabetes doesn’t have to shorten a person’s life. For best results, a patient may work with several specialists. These experts are referred to as a diabetes health care team. Along with simple checkups, these professionals help develop a strategy that focuses not just on the disease but possible associated conditions that are more likely to happen when diabetes isn’t controlled. Common comorbidities that might develop can include cardiovascular disease, kidney issues, neuropathy, poor skin health, and even vision issues. Although a primary care physician (PCP) is the first step, patients may also see experts, including registered dietitians (RDs), diabetes educators, pharmacists, podiatrists, endocrinologists, ophthalmologists or optometrists, nephrologists, cardiologists, or even a mental health professional.

For routine monitoring

The family doctor or PCP tends to be the healthcare professional who sees a diabetic most often. This individual doesn’t necessarily specialize in diabetes and may also care for other conditions that occur or are complicated by the diagnosis. This person prioritizes achieving stable blood glucose levels. The PCP will often meet with a diabetic more frequently, focusing on issues such as testing glucose levels or adjusting medications to improve disease response. However, because a family doctor is part of the care team, the results of these checkups will be shared with other team members.

The diabetes-heart health link

People diagnosed with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease. Likewise, the longer a person lives with the condition, the higher the associated risk to the heart. Heart disease refers to a variety of cardiovascular issues that also include stroke and coronary artery disease. Likewise, high blood pressure also carries a higher potential of occurring in people with diabetes. Other conditions include peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

How diabetes encourages heart disease

Diabetes can be an incredibly pervasive condition that slowly erodes the function of surrounding bodily symptoms. Specifically for cardiovascular health, the condition is linked to weakened blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart. Along with high blood pressure, diabetes can encourage excessive LDL or bad cholesterol. In excess, LDL can lead to arterial hardening. However, diabetes can also trigger these issues when combined with other issues such as being overweight or obese, not getting enough physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, or eating an unhealthy diet.

Bringing factors together

Diabetes can be a cascading degenerative disease that leads to breakdowns in other bodily systems. Due to this reality, diabetes requires careful management and consistent care. Diabetics are urged to maintain regular checkups so that physicians can catch warning signs early and determine effective interventions to prevent a decline in heart health.