Having diabetes will double your risk for heart disease or stroke. High blood sugar levels over time can lead to increase to deposits the fat inside the blood vessel walls. These deposits will slow down the blood flow increasing the chance of clogging and hardening of blood vessels.
What types of heart disease or vascular disease can occur in people with the diabetes?
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack or minor stroke)
- Heart failure
- Peripheral arterial disease
How does diabetes cause stroke?
Having diabetes will double your risk for heart disease or stroke. High blood sugar levels over time can lead to increase to deposits the fact in site the blood vessel walls. These deposits will slow down the blood flow increasing the chance of clogging and hardening of blood vessels.
What are the risk factors that will increase my chance of stroke when I have diabetes already?
High cholesterol levels. LDL-cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol can build up inside your blood vessels causing narrowing and blockage. Also high triglycerides or low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) can increase the risk.
High blood pressure. When he have high blood pressure, your heart must work harder to pump blood which can strain the heart and came damage blood vessels.
Smoking will double your risk of getting heart disease or stroke. Smoking can cause narrowing of the blood vessels that will also lead to other diseases including risk of stroke, eye problems, and circulation problems in legs increasing the risk for amputation.
Central obesity. A waist measurement of more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women is considered central obesity. Carrying extra weight around the waist as opposed to the hips will increase the risk of heart disease because abdominal fat can increase the production of bad cholesterol.
What is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that are mentioned above including-
- high cholesterol,
- high blood pressure
- obesity
- diabetes
All these risk factors can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
What can I do to prevent stroke?
Make diet changes. Include at least 14 g of fiber daily for every 1000 calories consumed. Cut down on saturated fats by reducing the amount of meat, poultry skin, butter, dairy products with fat, shortening, lard, palm or coconut oil. Keep cholesterol in your diet to less than 300 milligram a day. Cholesterol is found in meat, dairy products and eggs.
Limit your intake of trans-fats which are generally high in crackers, cookies, snack foods, commercially prepared baked goods, cake mixes, microwave popcorn, fried foods, salad dressings and other foods made with partially hydrogenated oil.
If you smoke, quit.
Studies have shown that taking low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk of stroke. But, not everyone is a candidate. Check with your health care provider if you should take aspirin.
Get prompt treatment for transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Early treatment for TIAs, sometimes called mini-strokes, may help prevent or delay future stroke. Signs of a TIA are sudden weakness, loss of balance, numbness, confusion, blindness in one or both eyes, double vision, difficulty speaking, or a severe headache.