We (India) are the diabetes capital of the world with almost 70 million recorded diabetes patients. Heart diseases are another leading cause of death in our country.

Diabetes and heart diseases are both lethal killers in their own right (or in conjunction).  Read on to learn how you can avoid some of their most telling risk factors.

Revisit The Basics - What Happens in Diabetes and Heart Diseases

In diabetes, the body is either unable to produce or regulate insulin leading to accumulation of blood glucose. This manifests itself as problems of the kidneys, eyes, heart, liver etc.

Heart diseases primarily have two mechanical issues at their core - either the arteries have partial or full blockage of the flow or the heart’s ability to pump blood is affected. These two can be caused by multiple factors but when any of the two conditions happen, heart attacks, failure or strokes happen

What Links Diabetes and Heart Disease?

Heart disease is a high probability complication for diabetics especially if their condition is not managed. Those with diabetes have inadequate insulin to provide to muscle cells. The liver finds an alternate source of energy, by combining fats with cholesterol. What this means is when blood glucose shoots up, so can your cholesterol.

Over time, this causes blockages, affecting the flow of blood to the heart. The high blood glucose also chips away at your blood vessels that control the heart. The lining of the blood vessels may become thicker.

What Can Be Done To Prevent This?

Manage your diabetes and blood sugar level - that should be the single-minded focus when it is diagnosed. While it does not matter at what age you get it, the longer you suffer from diabetes, higher are your chances of damage - so take great care.

Here are some steps you need to take:

• Smoking is your enemy, make sure you quit immediately.
• Obesity is yet another enemy, start working to get down to your ideal weight starting today
• Avoid but if you must, consume alcohol in great moderation. Consult your doctor to know more.
• Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes, be it a brisk walk, a few laps in the pool or some sport. Plan to do it outdoors and not close to bedtime because you must not affect your sleep
• Start eating healthy right away - get a diet plan or guidelines from your doctor and follow it strictly
• Take steps to consciously avoid stress triggers in your life.
• Undervalued but just as important as diet and exercise is getting sound sleep. Make sure you get 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
• Get annual checkups
  
  

If you feel any discomfort, especially in the chest or heart, immediately get a medical consultation.