Did you know that people with diabetes are at high risk for a heart attack or a stroke? Two out of 3 people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. Their heart attacks tend to be more serious and happen earlier in life.

Make the Link! Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke is an initiative of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American College of Cardiology, aimed at increasing awareness of the link between diabetes and heart disease.

Scientific evidence shows that controlling blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol can lower the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke in people with diabetes.

Know Your Numbers

Individuals with diabetes should aim for the following “ABC” target values to reduce their risk for heart attack and stroke:

• A 1C <7 (Average blood sugar <150).  The A1C test measures a person’s average blood sugar over an 8- to 12-week period.
• B lood pressure <130/80.
• C holesterol (LDL “bad” cholesterol) <100 mg/dl.

They should also aim for:

• HDL (good) cholesterol level of:
  > 50 mg/dl in women
  > 40 mg/dl in men.
• Triglyceride levels <150 mg/dl.

Take Good Care of Yourself

To achieve target health values and to prevent long-term health problems, individuals with diabetes need to:

• Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat foods and low in salt and sugar.
• Watch their food portion sizes.
• Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Not smoke.
• Take prescribed medications as needed to help control and lower blood sugar, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol.

Sources:  American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org, and NIH National Diabetes Education Program, www.ndep.nih.gov. (Report ed in Wellness News You Can Use, National Wellness Institute, October, 2004)