Diabetes and Heart Disease: What’s the Link?

If you have diabetes, your risk of heart disease is extremely high. The relationship between diabetes and heart disease is a major cause of concern for several people.

Heart diseases are already prevalent and a serious issue the world is experiencing right now. But the risk surges significantly even at a young age if you have diabetes. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease as others. Heart disease is quite common in diabetic patients.

More than 77 million adults live with diabetes, and research has indicated that the numbers will increase to 134 million by 2045.

According to the American Heart Association, at least 68% of people aged 65 or older with diabetes die from any kind of heart disease, and 16% die of stroke. The possibility of CVD death and stroke is also twice as high in people with diabetes.

As you know, diabetes comes in many kinds and although all people with diabetes have a high chance of developing heart disease, it’s worse for people with type 2 diabetes. As a matter of fact, the leading cause of death for people with type 2 diabetes is cardiovascular disease. The Framingham study was also the first to illustrate the increased vulnerability of heart disease among people with diabetes compared to people who don’t have it. The study analysed generations of people, including the ones with diabetes, to determine the biggest risk factor for developing heart disease. The study resulted in showcasing various heart factors, including diabetes, as the biggest risk factor towards causing heart problems.

What are the causes of heart disease among diabetics?

Over time, high blood sugar damages the blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart. Apart from this, people with diabetes have other conditions like obesity, high cholesterol, and others that heighten the risk.

Here’s how each affects-

• High blood pressure: There’s an increase in the force of the blood through the arteries, which damages the artery walls.

• High LDL (Low-density lipoproteins): Also called “bad” cholesterol, too much LDL forms a plague on the damaged artery walls.

• High Triglycerides: High LDL cholesterol and high triglycerides contribute to the hardening of the arteries.

The larger issue is that none of these mentioned conditions has symptoms. You can, however, check your blood pressure or go for a simple blood test to check your LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels.

Not just heart disease, people with diabetes are also at a high risk of heart failure. It is a serious condition where the heart is unable to pump blood adequately.

Detecting heart disease

People with diabetes can monitor their heart health to reduce their overall risk of heart disease. Doctors emphasise checking on your heart, which also includes taking an ECG. And guess what? It’s possible with KardiaMobile 6L, the world's first and only 6 lead US FDA cleared ECG heart monitor.

KardiaMobile 6L is a portable ECG monitor that takes medical-grade ECG in just 30 seconds. The device helps you detect cardiac arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, and bradycardia.

Heart arrhythmias can also lead to strokes and heart failure. AFib indicates that the heart isn’t pumping effectively, which can cause blood to collect in pools and form clots. If the clots dislocate and travel to the brain artery, then it can cause a fatal blockage or stroke.

Detecting tachycardia or bradycardia can also help you reduce the risk of heart failure. Alivecor KardiaMobile 6L, the smartest at home heart monitor can detect changes in your heart rhythm and warn you of potential heart diseases.