Diabetes and Your Heart
By Bob Fleming
Diabetes is one condition that must be treated as soon as it is diagnosed,
even though in its early stages it doesn't hurt, or cause inconvenience,
or create any worrisome symptoms. But ignoring it is a mistake, because
the blood sugar imbalance we diabetics live with can cause a variety of
complications, even leading to other serious health conditions.
One major cause for concern is adverse effects on our hearts. Our unstable
blood sugar levels can cause poor circulation big step on the road to
heart problems. Here are some things to watch for.
Hypertension
Diabetes often goes hand-in-hand with high blood pressure, or
hypertension. In fact, your doctor will tell you that diabetics must work
to get their blood pressure down even lower than other people. While a
systolic pressure (the top number) of 140 might be acceptable for the
general population, we diabetics should aim for 130 or lower. It's all
part of the battle against possible heart disease.
Blood fats
Cholesterol and tryglycerides, or blood fats, also need to be kept lower
in diabetics. Lots of fruits and vegetables, fewer packaged or fried foods
are your best bets for dietary blood fat control. Throw out that frying
pan!
Blood sugar
Blood sugar levels need monitoring too, as consistently high levels damage
blood vessels and can lead to cardiovascular difficulties.
Weight level
And of course you know it's important to maintain a healthy weight. Why is
that particularly important for us diabetics? First, if you are overweight
your heart muscle needs to work harder to pump blood through your system.
This weakens your blood vessels, which are then more susceptible to damage
from fluctuating blood sugar levels. It's a vicious cycle you don't want
to create.
Your heart is the main engine of your whole body, so you need to do
everything possible to keep it in good shape. For the sake of a healthy
heart, take control of your diabetes.
Bob Fleming suffers from Type 2 diabetes, but he does everything he
can to suffer as little as possible! Visit his website at
http://www.thediabetesinfoplace.com for informative articles and
resources, and sign up to receive
http://www.thediabetesinfoplace.com/ Bob's free weekly
diabetic-friendly dessert recipe!
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