Diabetes and coronary heart disease have a lot in common. For example, both are characterized by inflammation of the innermost layer of your arteries. This inflammatory state triggers a cascade of physiologic events that eventually lead to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which is the hallmark of cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle changes that decrease inflammation and address other risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as high cholesterol, are key elements in the management of diabetes and heart disease.
Limit Sugars
Although heart patients have only recently been advised to decrease sugar consumption as part of their treatment, this has long been a universal recommendation for diabetics. A large volume of research indicates that both types of patients might benefit from limiting sugar consumption. You should be especially cautious about eating high-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, which has recently been renamed "corn sugar." A 2005 review in "Nutrition and Metabolism" highlighted the compelling relationship between consumption of HFCS and the development of both diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Limit Fats
A high-fat diet, particularly one that is rich in saturated and trans fats, has been linked to obesity, heart disease and diabetes. According to the "American Journal of Physiology," triglycerides, which comprise the majority of dietary fats, are one of the factors that provoke inflammation along the interior walls of your arteries. The American Heart Association recommends that healthy people limit their fat consumption to 30 percent of total caloric intake. Calories from saturated and trans fats should comprise less than 7 percent and 1 percent of total caloric intake, respectively. Diabetics and heart patients might need to reduce their fat consumption even further.
Foods to Eat
You should choose foods that are nutrient-rich without being loaded with fat or sugar calories. Fresh vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat or fat-free dairy products are recommended for both diabetics and heart patients. Fresh fruits are also recommended, but diabetics might need to eat fewer sweet-tasting fruits in order to maintain good blood glucose control. Use natural, unhydrogenated oils, such as canola, sunflower, safflower or olive oils, when cooking or making salad dressings. If you must use butter or margarine, use soft substitutes that state "0 gm trans fat" on the nutrition label. Better still, use spreads that are rich in plant stanols and sterols. Eat at least two weekly meals of cold-water fish, such as salmon, or consider taking a fish oil supplement.
Considerations
Dietary needs for specific populations of people can only be generalized. Not everyone has the same nutritional requirements. If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, you should talk to your doctor about arranging a consultation with a dietitian or nutritionist. Ask your physician or dietitian if a multivitamin or other dietary supplements would be beneficial for you. Your own situation might merit lifestyle changes that do not apply to a friend or family member who has the same diagnosis, so be wary of heeding advice from unqualified individuals.
References
- "Nutrition and Metabolism"; Fructose, insulin resistance, and metabolic dyslipidemia; Basciano H, et al.; 2005
- "American Journal of Physiology"; Endothelial inflammation correlates with subject triglycerides and waist size following a high fat meal; Wang Y, et al.; 2010
- American Heart Association: Knowing Your Fats
