If you are a diabetic, caring for your heart is of far greater importance than you can imagine. Diabetes doubles the heart disease risks in individuals living with it than those without it. Moreover, if you have type 2 diabetes, your heart faces even bigger challenges—in fact, heart problems have become the top killer for people with this condition. Interventional cardiologists understand this deep connection well, as diabetes can foster heart ailments early in life. But you have got more control than you realise. By learning what makes your diabetes tick and getting the proper treatment when you need it, you can help keep your heart strong.
About Diabetes
Living with diabetes, a lasting health condition means your body fails to have blood sugar (blood glucose) levels in the healthy range. In a healthy body, the process flows naturally: eating leads to food being broken down into sugar, raising blood sugar levels, which cells then absorb through a hormone called insulin into your bloodstream to create energy.
With diabetes, this vital process faces disruptions. Your body finds it hard either to produce enough insulin or to use it properly, leading blood sugar levels to rise beyond their normal range. When these higher levels persist, they can trigger serious health issues—affecting your vision, kidneys, and nerves and causing problems in your feet and legs. This impact reaches your heart health, too, raising your chances of experiencing stroke and heart disease.
About Heart Disease
Heart disease is a group of conditions that affects your heart's health. Coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease, develops over time as plaque—composed of cholesterol and other substances—accumulates in the arteries that supply blood to your heart. This buildup weakens your heart muscles, increasing your risk of heart failure, heart attacks, and other cardiac complications.
While excess weight is often considered the primary cause of heart disease, age plays an equally significant role. The risk of developing heart disease increases notably after age 40, reaching its highest levels beyond age 70.
Also Read: The Impact of AFib and Diabetes on Your Hearts Rhythm
How Does Diabetes Impact Your Heart
Knowing how diabetes affects your heart is important because it impacts your health in multiple ways that are crucial to your life:
- Looking at how diabetes affects your heart shows that diabetes plays a direct role. When not properly managed, it can take a serious toll on your heart's ability to function normally, leading to heart failure—diabetes damages both the blood vessels that feed your heart and the nerves controlling it due to excessive sugar in your blood. When your heart does not pump blood efficiently, you will start to notice concerning changes—you might see swelling in your legs or feet or struggle to breathe as fluid gathers in your lungs.
- High blood pressure and cholesterol create additional risks. With diabetes and high blood pressure hitting you at the same time, your risk of heart disease doubles. When cholesterol and triglyceride levels become unhealthy, they build up in your artery walls as plaque, damaging the walls and leading to arterial hardening, contributing to insulin resistance. This progression elevates your risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack.
- Your weight and your activity levels count, too. With diabetes, if you are overweight or your BMI is more than 30, you are at increased risk for heart disease. The good news is that losing weight will enhance both your heart health and your body's response to insulin. You must stay physically active—being inactive affects your diabetes management and heart health.
Recognising Heart Disease Symptoms in Diabetics
For someone living with diabetes, knowing the warning signs is a vital part of taking care of yourself, which is highly essential for early detection and management and improved outcomes. Here are the critical signals your body may give you:
- Chest pain or angina—described as tightness or pressure in your chest area.
- Pain in your arm (one or both arms), jaw, neck, throat, back, or upper abdomen.
- Shortness of breath.
- Unusual, extreme tiredness.
- Fainting or near-fainting episodes.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Chest fluttering sensation.
- Slow heartbeat.
- Rapid heartbeat without physical exertion.
- Numbness or weakness in the legs.
- Nausea and vomiting.
Essential Heart Disease Tests & Monitoring
No single test will precisely diagnose heart disease as is. Your doctor will most likely recommend several tests to understand your condition and metabolic health. Some of the standard tests used include:
- Blood tests check your total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.
- An electrocardiogram, or EKG, measures your heartbeat’s electrical activity to check for any heartbeat irregularities, determining whether there has been a recent heart attack or your heart is working too hard.
- Echocardiograms produce images of your heart using sound waves to help analyse how well the blood moves through your heart.
- Stress tests demonstrate the response of your heart to exercise.
- CT or CAT scans produce images of your heart’s cross-section, blockages and calcium deposition using a computer for assessment.
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) generates an image of your heart using sound waves to access your heart valves and check for blood clots.
Management of Heart Disease With Diabetes
Living with diabetes and heart conditions may feel like a lot to manage, but you have many ways to take control of your heart health. Here are the practices to follow:
- Keep your blood sugar and A1C levels in check.
- Aim to maintain your blood pressure around 130/80. Your prescribed medications are there to help you reach this goal.
- Have your cholesterol numbers under control; if medications are needed, take them as prescribed.
- Find your healthy weight and stick to it. Heart-friendly eating approaches like DASH or Mediterranean diets can make this easier.
- Make movement a regular part of your day. Exercise helps control blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol—plus, it targets weight loss, especially that tricky belly fat that can affect your heart.
- Be selective about what you eat. Your body works better when you limit added sugars, excess salt, refined grains, processed foods, and unhealthy fats.
- Take time to unwind each day—your peace of mind matters.
- If you smoke, now's the perfect time to stop.
- Take your medications exactly as your doctor prescribes. Regular check-ups help track your progress.
- When surgery comes up as an option, see it as part of your care plan.
By staying consistent with these practices, you are taking real steps to prevent serious health issues and take charge of your well-being.
Protect Your Heart From Diabetes: Take Action Today
Diabetes and heart disease share many of the same risk factors. Managing your blood sugar is one way to avoid heart problems because when not managed properly, diabetes can make heart problems more likely. Regular health check-ups help find the problems early, preventing small concerns from becoming bigger complications.
At Dr. Karthigesan Clinic in Chennai, we specialise in helping patients manage both diabetes and heart health through tailored care plans. We ensure you receive comprehensive monitoring and guidance for a heart-healthy lifestyle, including proper medication management and lifestyle adjustments. Schedule your heart health assessment with us today.
