If you're one of the 23.6 million adults over the age of 20 who have been diagnosed with diabetes, you obviously have a lot on your mind. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), people who have been diagnosed with diabetes are also at higher risk for heart disease and stroke, hypertension, blindness, kidney disease, neuropathy and even dental disease. The good news is that there are a number of ways to deal with your disease so that you can continue to live a normal productive life.
Diabetes in Simple Terms
Diabetes is a serious metabolic disease that affects the way the body metabolizes glucose in the blood. There are two types: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetics fail to make enough insulin in their pancreas. Insulin is an important hormone that helps the cells of the body use glucose. Type 2 diabetics make enough insulin, but their tissues are resistant to it. Both types have the same results: their cells starve in the presence of abnormally high blood glucose levels.
Diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is a disease where abnormally high concentrations of cholesterol adhere to the lining of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Over time, so much cholesterol can accumulate on the inside of the arteries that they become completely occluded, causing a heart attack. Diabetics have nearly twice the incidence of coronary artery disease than others who don't. They also develop CAD at a much earlier age than others. High glucose levels in the blood leads to increased fatty deposits on the inside of the blood vessels.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease in Diabetics
There are six major risk factors for heart disease, including diabetes. The others are obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking and a sedentary lifestyle. Any one of these risk factors is reason for concern. When you put two or more together like diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol, your risk for having a heart attack increases exponentially.
There are several risk factors that warrant immediate attention. Anyone with central obesity--carrying extra weight around their midsection--is at a higher risk for heart disease because of elevated LDL cholesterol. If you are a man and your waist size is greater than 40 inches, and 35 inches for a woman, you have central obesity.
Lowering Cholesterol
Even for nondiabetics, there are two types of cholesterol to monitor: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL cholesterol is the most important type to minimize through diet by avoiding saturated fat, trans fats and cholesterol. Eating too much of these contributes to the blockage of the coronary arteries. You'll find these in highly processed, high-fat foods and commercially prepared treats that are designed with long shelf lives in mind. You can counter the effects of eating LDL-rich food by eating low-fat or nonfat dairy products, seafood, lean meats and more fruits and vegetables.
Dietary Supplements
If you struggle to eat your daily allotment of lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, there are a number of dietary supplements that will help you meet your nutritional needs. Niacin is a supplement available at your local supermarket that is normally found in certain types of pasta, breakfast cereals, mushrooms and kidney beans. Omega-3 fatty acids are another supplement that is normally contained in certain types of cold-water fish like tuna, trout, salmon and mackerel and has been shown to raise HDL--the good type of cholesterol.
Providing Balance
The key to managing diabetes while lowering your cholesterol is to eat a heart-healthy diet that is rich in fresh fruit, beans, vegetables, lean meats and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. By enlisting the help of your family and friends, you can make it a group effort and improve everyone's health!
