The Hormone insulin, produced by the pancreas is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the bloodstream
There are 2 main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 The pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin
- Type 2 The pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body doesn’t react to insulin
Diabetes and Your Heart
Your blood carries oxygen around your body so that your heart and other organs work properly.
Diabetes means that you have excess glucose (sugar) in your blood.
Too much glucose in your blood stream can affect the artery walls, this makes it easier for your arteries to fur up or become blocked. Diabetes therefore increases your risk of having a heart attack, however with appropriate diabetic care the chances of developing complications can be dramatically reduced.
Keeping your diabetes under control can be as simple as taking your prescribed medication and/or keeping your diet healthy (low in fats and sugars).
Measuring Blood Sugar Levels
If you are diabetic your GP practice can invite you for a blood test, usually yearly to help monitor your glucose levels.
A way of measuring the glucose levels in your blood is with an HbA1c blood test. This shows your average sugar levels over the previous 3 months with the target value for people with type 2 diabetes at 6.5% or 48mmol/mol.
If you get a reading of this value or under, you are on the right track. If your HbA1c is above this, there is some room for improvement with your diabetes control.
Risk Factors
Exercise and activity are important in your heart health, 30 minute of exercise a day can lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease. It is also important not to sit too long in the day, keep active and healthy.
Keep your blood pressure below 130/80 this can be achieved through healthy diet, exercise and a healthy weight. Your GP/Cardiologist may also prescribe medications to lower your blood pressure if required.
Healthy weight range – try to keep your (BMI) Body Mass Index between 19 and 25. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight by the square of your height. You can use an online BMI Calculator.
Further Reading
If you wish to know more about diabetes, the diabetic nurse specialists in Lothian keep up to date diabetic information on their website www.edinburghdiabetes.com as well as www.diabetes.co.uk.
The British Heart Foundation also provide information and leaflets on Diabetes and your heart which you can view or download using the following links:
