Factor 3. Diabetes: The Sweet Rebellion
The story of heart disease risk factors continues with diabetes, another formidable antagonist. This chronic condition, characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, has profound implications for heart health.
Understanding the workings of diabetes requires us to delve into the realm of insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. In type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t produce insulin. In type 2, which is more common, the body either resists the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough. Both scenarios result in high blood sugar levels, and this is where the heart comes into the picture.
High blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves that control the heart. Over time, this damage can lead to a host of heart-related complications, including coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, and even diabetic cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle).
Living with diabetes doesn’t mean you are destined to develop heart disease, though. Many people with diabetes live healthy lives by carefully managing their blood sugar levels. Regular monitoring, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and medication, if required, can help keep diabetes under control. It’s a delicate dance, but with the right steps, diabetes and heart health can coexist. (3)
