Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiabetes and Heart AttackRisksTreatment and Management
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diabetes and Heart Attack
Risks
Treatment and Management
If you havediabetes, your risk forheart disease, including having aheart attack, is higher than for someone without the condition. Therefore, having diabetes makes it even more important to monitor your heart health.
This article discusses the connection between diabetes and heart attacks and how you can manage diabetes while reducing your risk of a heart attack.
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Connection Between Diabetes and Heart Attack
Type 2 diabetesis a chronic condition that affects how the body processes blood sugar (glucose) and causes high bloodglucose levels. Over time,high blood sugarcan damage your blood vessels and nerves. Untreated oruncontrolled diabetescan lead to manycomplications, including heart disease.
When you have diabetes, risk forheart diseaseor stroke is almost double that of someone without diabetes, and your risk tends to develop at a younger age.
Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in people with diabetes.In one systematic review (summary of a broad amount of medical literature on a specific topic), cardiovascular disease was linked to about half of all deaths of people withtype 2 diabeteswithin a 10-year period.
Diabetes and Heart Disease Risk in Black People
Factors in people with diabetes that increase the risk for heart disease and stroke include:
Treatment and Management of Diabetes With Heart Disease
Managing your diabetes can help lower your risk for heart disease and heart attack.
The following are several ways to lower your risk of heart disease when you have diabetes.
Aim for Healthy Food Choices
Heart-healthyfoods canbenefit your blood sugarlevels and diabetes management and lower your risk for heart complications. Healthy foods to incorporate into your diet include:
Work With a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Certified diabetes care and education specialists can help identify the right food choices for your needs.Speak to your healthcare provider about a referral to someone in your area.
Regularly Check Hemoglobin A1C Levels
Yourhemoglobin A1Cnumber indicates your average blood sugar levels over the previous two to three months. Most people with diabetes should have their A1C checked every three to six months.Discuss any unusual numbers with your healthcare team and determine your A1C goal; for many people with diabetes, it’s 7% or lower.
Know Your Blood Pressure
Highblood pressurecan also raise your risk for heart disease, including a heart attack. People with diabetes should have their blood pressure checked at every healthcare checkup and monitor it at home if it’s often high.
If blood pressure is persistently above 130/80 mmHg, medication is recommended to lower it.Speak to your healthcare provider about a healthy range.
Track Your Cholesterol
Like A1C and blood pressure,cholesterolis another number to monitor regularly.Healthier food choices and physical activity can help lower cholesterol, but sometimes medication is needed. Discuss cholesterol goal numbers with your healthcare provider and ways to achieve this.
Lose Weight If Needed
The American Diabetes Association advises that weight loss of 10% or more can cut cardiovascular risks and sometimes even lead to diabetes remission. Diabetes medications such as Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are effective at reducing weight.
But losing even just 5% to 7% of your body weight can make a difference in your outlook, including your blood sugar and triglyceride levels.
Get Regular Physical Activity
Regularphysical activitywill lower your risk for heart disease and potentially lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, too. Current federal guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate, heart-pumping exercise each week.
If you’re new to exercise, start slow and work up gradually. You can also break your physical activity into smaller chunks, such as 10-minute brisk walks after each meal.
Quit Smoking
Take Necessary Medications
Take allmedications for heart diseaseordiabetesthat your healthcare provider recommends. These medications may help lower cholesterol or blood sugar and reduce heart attack risk.
Latest Medication Options for Diabetes
Get Emergency Care for a Heart Attack
Heart Attack SymptomsCall 911 (or have someone call for you) if you have anysymptomsof a heart attack, including:Chest pain or pressure that lasts a few minutes or goes away and returnsIndigestionPain in your arm, jaw, or shouldersShortness of breathSweatingUnusual fatigue
Heart Attack Symptoms
Call 911 (or have someone call for you) if you have anysymptomsof a heart attack, including:Chest pain or pressure that lasts a few minutes or goes away and returnsIndigestionPain in your arm, jaw, or shouldersShortness of breathSweatingUnusual fatigue
Call 911 (or have someone call for you) if you have anysymptomsof a heart attack, including:
Summary
Having diabetes and sustained blood sugar levels can raise your risk for a heart attack due to associated blood vessel damage. Certain risk factors associated with diabetes, including obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, also contribute to a higher risk of a heart attack.
Making healthy choices, such as eating more nutritiously, regular physical activity, and monitoring your health numbers (such as your hemoglobin A1C and blood pressure), can lower your chance of a heart attack when you have diabetes.
A Word From Verywell
Diabetes can be a lot to manage, and it can be even more challenging to learn that you also have a higher risk for heart disease or a heart attack. However, you can help lower your risk of heart attack. Work with your healthcare team to follow a heart-healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, and get more physical activity.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and your heart.American Diabetes Association.Cardiovascular disease.Einarson TR, Acs A, Ludwig C, et al.Prevalence of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: a systematic literature review of scientific evidence from across the world in 2007-2017.Cardiovascular Diabetology. 2018;17, 83. doi:10.1186/s12933-018-0728-6American Heart Association.Cardiovascular disease and diabetes.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diabetic heart disease.American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.10. Cardiovascular disease and risk management:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S179-S218. doi:10.2337/dc24-S010Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Get active!
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and your heart.American Diabetes Association.Cardiovascular disease.Einarson TR, Acs A, Ludwig C, et al.Prevalence of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: a systematic literature review of scientific evidence from across the world in 2007-2017.Cardiovascular Diabetology. 2018;17, 83. doi:10.1186/s12933-018-0728-6American Heart Association.Cardiovascular disease and diabetes.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diabetic heart disease.American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.10. Cardiovascular disease and risk management:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S179-S218. doi:10.2337/dc24-S010Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Get active!
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and your heart.American Diabetes Association.Cardiovascular disease.Einarson TR, Acs A, Ludwig C, et al.Prevalence of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: a systematic literature review of scientific evidence from across the world in 2007-2017.Cardiovascular Diabetology. 2018;17, 83. doi:10.1186/s12933-018-0728-6American Heart Association.Cardiovascular disease and diabetes.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diabetic heart disease.American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.10. Cardiovascular disease and risk management:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S179-S218. doi:10.2337/dc24-S010Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Get active!
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and your heart.
American Diabetes Association.Cardiovascular disease.
Einarson TR, Acs A, Ludwig C, et al.Prevalence of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: a systematic literature review of scientific evidence from across the world in 2007-2017.Cardiovascular Diabetology. 2018;17, 83. doi:10.1186/s12933-018-0728-6
American Heart Association.Cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diabetic heart disease.
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.10. Cardiovascular disease and risk management:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S179-S218. doi:10.2337/dc24-S010
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Get active!
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