Health Tips

Yes! Diabetes can affect our heart! ^1,2

Cardiovascular disease (CVD, also known as “heart disease”) encompasses a wide variety of diseases such as heart attack, heart failure, atherosclerosis etc. ¹

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), heart disease is the main cause of death for diabetic individuals, accounting for up to two-thirds of deaths in those with Type 2 Diabetes. ¹

But fear not, with proper diabetes management and good lifestyle habits, diabetic individuals could reduce their risk of getting heart disease. ²

How is diabetes linked to heart disease?

When our blood sugar level rises above normal conditions, our body will not be able to use the glucose (sugar) properly. The sugar in our blood will attach itself to the red blood cells, resulting in blood cells clumping together. ³

This results in a blockage to the blood vessels, increasing the risks of a heart attack because the heart does not receive enough nutrients and oxygen. High blood sugar would also cause the blood vessels to be damaged and weakened. ³

Other factors that increase the risk

The chances of diabetes patients developing heart diseases may increase due to the following factors:

• High blood pressure (Hypertension). Diabetic patients often develop high blood pressure, which causes blood to flow more forcefully through the arteries. This does not only damages our blood vessels but also strains our heart as it is harder for the heart to pump blood. ^2,4
   
• Unusual cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Having too much “bad” cholesterol (LDL) in the body heavily affects the heart as they stick to the walls of the arteries, clogging them up. Blood vessels might also harden when triglyceride (a type of fat in our blood) levels are high. ^2,4

Other factors include:

• Family History ⁴
   
• Obesity or being overweight ²
   
• Unhealthy lifestyle habits: smoking, alcohol over consumption, lack of sufficient exercise, unhealthy food (eg. food high in fat and salt content) etc. ²

What are some of the symptoms of CVD?

Since diabetic individuals are prone to developing CVD, here are some warning signs that they should watch out for:

What can be done to lower the risks?

Heart diseases have always been dangerous, even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-existing medical conditions like CVD and diabetes are one of the reasons why some individuals have a higher chance of becoming severely ill when they are infected with the COVID-19 virus. ⁵

Therefore to lower the risks of CVD, you should:

1. Build a healthy lifestyle. There are so many ways to stay healthy! Start exercising regularly, eat healthy and nutritious food, quit unhealthy habits such as smoking and get enough sleep. A healthy lifestyle helps us to manage diabetes effectively and also lower the risks of heart diseases. ⁴
   
   
    
2. Effective stress management. Accumulated stress from our daily lives increases our blood pressure and blood sugar. Therefore, always remember to take a break and have proper rest. Yoga, deep breathing techniques and getting support from friends and family are good ways to relieve stress. ^2,4
   
   
    
3. Know your ABCs. ^2,4

• A: The A1C test is an important blood test that indicates the patient’s average blood sugar level for the past 3 months. Make sure to keep your A1C goal in mind.
• B: It is important to maintain your blood pressure at around 140/90 mmHg
• C: Avoid diets that are high in unhealthy fats such as trans fat and saturated fats to manage cholesterol levels.
• s: Stop smoking.
  
  

References:

1. ADA. Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. Available at https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/complications/cardiovascular-disease. Accessed on: 25th August 2021
2. CDC. Diabetes and your Heart. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-and-heart.html. Accessed on: 25th August 2021
3. Diabetes UK. Diabetes and Heart Disease. Available at https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications/cardiovascular_disease. Accessed on: 25th August 2021
4. NIDDK. Diabetes, Heart Disease, & Stroke. Available at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/heart-disease-stroke. Accessed on: 25th August 2021
5. IDF (International Diabetes Federation). COVID-19 and diabetes. Available at https://www.idf.org/aboutdiabetes/what-is-diabetes/covid-19-and-diabetes/1-covid-19-and-diabetes.html. Accessed on: 27th August 2021.

-This article is supported by MSD-

MY-NON-00098 Oct/2021

Written by

Ms. Su Pei Wen