12 VITALITY Summer 2024 Diabetes and heart disease are more connected than you might think. A person with diabetes is twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared to someone without diabetes. That’s because high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves around your heart. Here are some other connections between diabetes and heart disease that you should know. People with diabetes are more likely to have: ● High LDL. That’s the “bad” cholesterol that causes plaque to build up in arteries. ● High blood pressure. Having both diabetes and high blood pressure dramatically increases heart disease risk. ● High triglycerides and low HDL (“good” cholesterol). This is a type of fat that builds up in—and stiffens—arteries. Luckily, there is a lot you can do to help prevent both diabetes and heart disease. It starts with managing the diabetes ABCS: A Get your A1C tested regularly to track your average blood sugar over time. B Watch your blood pressure, and keep it in the zone your health care provider recommends. C Stay on top of your cholesterol levels. Control them with lifestyle changes and medication your provider may prescribe. S Don’t smoke. If you smoke, find a smoking cessation program and stick to it. CEO update: Heart care at CMH The CMH Heart Institute Clinic is a Level II STEMI Center with 24/7 cardiology availability. New catheterization lab equipment installed in fall 2023 increases the quality of the X-ray pictures and reduces radiation levels. The new hospital expansion will include two cardiac cath labs for shorter wait times and more emergency access. Learn more in “CEO update: Heart care at CMH” on the CMH Blog at cmhbolivar.info/3I7z5xW.
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