Link to MamasHealth.com

 

People with Diabetes Can Play a Big Role in Reducing Their Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

(ARA) - If you have diabetes, a trip to the doctor’s office should be more than a check on your blood glucose levels. More than two-thirds of people with diabetes don’t realize that they are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. But in reality, heart disease strikes people with diabetes twice as often as people without diabetes.

Take charge of your health and work toward comprehensive diabetes care that includes managing blood glucose and other cardiovascular risk factors. By checking with your doctor about the ABCs of diabetes, you can help reduce your risk. A is for the A1C test, which measures the average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months; B is for blood pressure; and C is for cholesterol.

Talk to your doctor or other member of your health care team about the link between diabetes and heart disease. Use these questions as a guide for your next visit to the doctor:

  • What are my ABC numbers and what are my ABC goals?
  • How often should my ABCs be checked?
  • What steps can I take to reach each of my ABC goals?
  • Can taking medications such as aspirin, ACE inhibitors or statins help me reduce my risk for a heart attack or stroke?
  • What are the symptoms of heart attack and stroke that I need to watch for? Do I need special testing to detect heart disease?
  • What’s the best way for me to quit smoking?

This information is provided by the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Cardiology, partners in an educational initiative called, “Make the Link! Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke.”

Courtesy of ARA Content

Advertise on MamasHealth.com

Health Topic: Tummy Tuck Surgery: What No One Tells You

Anorexia and my hips: A true personal story

Finding time for sex

How to choose the best weight loss program

Easy flirting tips

How to deal with a stubborn husband or boyfriend

How to support a family on one income

Green Energy

Raising a teenager

Information obtained from MamasHealth.com™ should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner, nor should it be inferred as such. Always check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about a specific condition.

Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use.
Contact us: PO Box 2170, Pasadena, CA 91102-2170

If you want a review of your product featured on MamasHealth.com, let us know.

©2000 - 2008 MamasHealth.com™. All rights reserved

Link to MamasHealth.com