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You know that having diabetes means that you need to be careful about the amount of glucose in your blood. Having high blood sugar increases your risk of developing many other conditions. Excess glucose can affect your nerves, retina, and numerous other systems in your body.
At Advanced Heart Care Associates, our providers want you to be aware of your heart-related risks if you have diabetes. During this Diabetes Awareness Month, we encourage you to bring your questions to us so we can provide answers tailored to the unique context of your situation.
Let’s take a look at some of the basics regarding diabetes and heart health.
Diabetes and your heart
As you know, glucose is vital because it provides energy to your cells. The food you eat is broken down, and glucose is carried through your bloodstream to every cell in your body. But when you have diabetes, too much glucose builds up in your blood.
If you don’t get treatment, the excess glucose buildup can lead to serious and even life-threatening health issues, including heart disease.
Heart disease is an umbrella term that’s used to describe several different heart issues. Most often, it’s used to describe coronary artery disease, which is when plaque builds up in the arteries that bring oxygen-rich blood to your heart.
Plaque contains cholesterol deposits, and as it collects along the walls of your arteries, the passage through which your blood flows becomes narrower. That narrower passage increases the chance of you having a heart attack.
The same process can block the arteries in your legs and feet. When that happens, it’s called peripheral arterial disease, or PAD. PAD causes some symptoms, like:
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness in your feet
- Hair loss on your legs or feet
- Brittle toenails that grow slowly
- The skin on your legs and feet may look shiny or change color
- Erectile dysfunction
- Open sores that don’t heal on your lower legs or feet
Often, the symptoms of PAD are the first sign of a heart problem in people who have diabetes.
The connection between your heart and your blood sugar
Heart disease and diabetes frequently go together. People who have diabetes are, in fact, twice as likely to develop heart disease as people who don’t have diabetes. It gets worse: heart disease is the leading cause of death for people who have diabetes.
Having excess sugar in your bloodstream can damage two essential elements of heart health, your nerves and your blood vessels. Nerves give you sensation, but they also control your autonomic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system controls things like circulation, respiration, and digestion—things you don’t have to think about. But if you have autonomic neuropathy, damage to your nerves from high blood sugar, you may not realize it.
Nerve and blood vessel damage affect your heart function, and they can also make it more difficult for you to recognize the signs of a heart attack. You may not feel chest pain, for example. Here are some symptoms you should never ignore if you have diabetes:
- Heartburn or nausea
- A feeling of fullness
- Chest pain or pressure
- Shortness of breath or lightheadedness
- Clammy or sweaty hands
- Pain in the neck, jaw, or left arm
Protecting your heart
The first step in protecting your heart when you have diabetes is controlling your blood sugar. Maintaining a healthy range is crucial. Follow a balanced, appropriate diet, exercise regularly, and take your medication as directed. Don’t smoke and limit alcohol.
Seeing a cardiologist for preventive care is also a good idea. The doctors at Advanced Heart Care Associates can identify symptoms of heart disease, often before you experience anything noticeable.
If you have a family history of heart disease, it’s critical to keep an eye on your heart health. Schedule your appointment at either of our Advanced Heart Care Associates locations today.