February is Heart Disease Awareness Month, and if you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, it’s crucial to understand how these conditions affect your heart.
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death for people with diabetes, and those with prediabetes are already at a higher risk. But why does diabetes increase the chances of heart problems? And more importantly, what can you do about it?
Let’s dive into 5 key reasons why diabetes and heart disease are closely linked—and how you can protect your heart.
- Diabetes and Heart Disease Go Hand in Hand
People with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes are more likely to develop heart disease due to high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and inflammation. When you control your blood sugar and decrease your diabetes risks, you decrease your risk for heart disease.
- High Blood Sugar Damages Blood Vessels
When blood sugar stays too high for too long, it can damage arteries, making them stiff and narrow. High blood sugars damages the cell walls. The damage results in scar tissue and stiffens the arterial walls. This increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and circulation problems.
- Insulin Resistance Increases Heart Disease Risk
Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes often involve insulin resistance, which causes high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and excess fat storage—all of which strain the heart.
- High Blood Pressure and Diabetes Are a Dangerous Pair
Many people with diabetes also develop high blood pressure (hypertension), which makes the heart work harder and increases the risk of heart failure, strokes, and heart attacks.
- Unhealthy Cholesterol Levels Raise the Risk
Diabetes often leads to low “good” HDL cholesterol and high “bad” LDL cholesterol, which contributes to plaque buildup in arteries—a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis causes stiffness of the arteries. (Refer back to number 2).
What Can You Do to Protect Your Heart?
If you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, taking steps to protect your heart health is just as important as managing your blood sugar. Here’s what you can do:
✔ Eat a heart-healthy diet (focus on whole foods, lean proteins, fiber, and healthy fats).
✔ Move more (aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days).
✔ Monitor your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
✔ Manage stress with relaxation techniques, meditation, or deep breathing.
✔ Get enough sleep (7–9 hours a night).
✔ Quit smoking if you smoke.
✔ Work with your doctor or diabetes educator to stay on track.
Final Thoughts
Heart disease and diabetes are closely connected, but you have the power to reduce your risk. By making small, daily changes, you can protect your heart, control your blood sugar, and improve your overall health.
Your heart matters—take care of it today!
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