When your doctor tells you that you have Type 2 Diabetes, you may feel a lot of fear and anxiety, right? "Will I also develop heart disease?" The question may be in the back of your mind. Many people think so. But don't worry. It's true that there is a close connection between diabetes and heart health. But that doesn't mean you will definitely develop heart disease. Today, let's talk about the real connection between these two diseases and how you can take care of your precious heart.
Why is it said that a person with diabetes is at higher risk of heart disease?
This is an important fact to understand. Simply put, compared to someone without diabetes, you are about twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure if you have diabetes. In fact, statistics show that nearly two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease.
Now you might be wondering, "Why is that?" The reason is, these two diseases are like siblings. They both share many common risk factors.
Think of it this way: diabetes and heart disease are like two cars driving on the same road. They both like to drive on the same roads. Those roads are called risk factors.
Let's see what these common risk factors are.
| Common Risk Factor | How it affects diabetes and heart disease |
|---|---|
| Obesity - increased body weight | Being overweight reduces insulin function and puts extra strain on the heart. This contributes to both diseases. |
| Lack of exercise (Sedentary Lifestyle) | When the body is inactive, it becomes difficult to control blood sugar, and blood pressure and cholesterol levels increase. |
| Unhealthy diet | Foods high in sugar, oil, and starch (like rice and bread) increase blood sugar and cholesterol, paving the way for both diseases. |
| High Blood Pressure | When blood pressure increases, it damages the heart and blood vessels. This risk is even greater for people with diabetes. |
| High Cholesterol | Bad cholesterol (LDL) builds up in the blood vessels and narrows them. This is a major cause of heart attacks. |
How does diabetes directly damage the heart?
In addition to common risk factors, diabetes itself can directly damage your heart and blood vessels. Here's how it works.
Insulin is a hormone produced by our pancreas. It's like a key. This key opens the doors of our body's cells and allows the sugar, or glucose, from the food we eat to enter the cells. This is how the cells get energy.
In type 2 diabetes, either not enough of these insulin keys are produced, or the doors of our cells do not respond properly to this key (this is called `Insulin Resistance`).
What happens then? All the sugar that can't get into the cells builds up in the blood. The main symptom of diabetes is that blood sugar levels are constantly high .
Just as if sugar water continues to flow through a water pipe, a layer of glue forms inside it, when there is always too much sugar in our blood vessels, the walls of those vessels are damaged.
This damage causes the blood vessels to gradually harden and narrow. This condition is medically known as atherosclerosis .
- If the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries) become narrowed, the heart may not receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs, leading to a heart attack .
- If a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain becomes blocked, a stroke can occur.
But don't worry! There are many things you can do.
If you're feeling scared after reading this, forget it. The important thing is that having diabetes doesn't mean you'll get heart disease. While this may sound like a burden to you, there are many things you can do to protect your heart.
Research has shown that if a person with diabetes manages their risk factors properly, they can live a healthy, long life, just like someone without diabetes.
So what can you do?
- Talk to your doctor regularly: The doctor who treats your diabetes is your best friend. Go to the clinics on time. Check your blood sugar levels (especially the HbA1c test), blood pressure, and cholesterol levels regularly.
- Use prescribed medications exactly as prescribed: Take the medications prescribed by your doctor for diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol exactly as prescribed, without skipping a single dose.
- Adopt a healthy diet: Avoid starchy foods like rice, bread, jackfruit, breadfruit, and potatoes. Instead, include vegetables, greens, fruits (low in sugar), fish, chicken, and nuts in your diet. Stay away from sugary foods like sweetened drinks, cakes, and biscuits as much as possible.
- Make exercise a part of your life: Do something that gets you sweating, like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming, for at least 30 minutes a day. It doesn't have to be a big deal, just start small.
- Control your weight: Try to maintain a healthy weight for your height through proper diet and exercise.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol completely: Smoking is a direct damage to blood vessels, which is very dangerous for someone with diabetes.
Remember, every healthy step you take not only controls your diabetes but also protects your heart.
Take-Home Message
- There is a very close relationship between Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease.
- High blood sugar levels, overweight, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, and cholesterol are common risk factors for both diseases.
- Having diabetes does not mean you will develop heart disease. This risk can be best controlled with proper lifestyle and medical treatment.
- Always monitor your diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Always discuss these with your doctor and seek advice.
- Your health is in your hands. Take a good step towards it today.
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