Lets Talk About

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Lets Talk About Getting to the Heart of Diabetes
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What is cardiovascular disease?

• Cardiovascular diseases are diseases of the heart
  and blood vessels, including stroke.

• Heart and blood vessel problems develop when
  arteries that supply the heart or brain with
  blood slowly become clogged from a buildup of
  cells, fat and cholesterol. This is called plaque.

• Plaques that rupture cause blood clots to form.
  If a blood clot blocks a blood vessel that feeds
  the heart or the brain, you could have a heart
  attack or stroke.

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Why is cardiovascular disease important to a
person with diabetes?

• Too much blood sugar in the blood over time can
  cause damage to many parts of the body, including
  the arteries and blood vessels. This damage makes
  it easier for fatty deposits (plaques) to form in
  the arteries and cause blood clots. Ultimately,
  this can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Two-thirds of people with diabetes die of some
form of heart or blood vessel disease.
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What happens during a heart attack?

• Heart attacks occur when the blood flow to a part
  of the heart is blocked, usually by a blood clot.
  If the clot cuts off the blood flow completely,
  the part of the heart muscle supplied by that
  artery begins to die.

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Do you know the warning signs?
Heart Attack

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve
  discomfort in the center of the chest lasting
  more than a few minutes, or that goes away and
  comes back. It may feel like uncomfortable
  pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.   

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such
  as pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the
  back, neck, jaw or stomach.   
• Shortness of breath. May occur with or without
  chest discomfort.  
• Other signs. These may include breaking out in a
  cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness 

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What happens during a stroke?
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries
leading to and within the brain.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries
oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either
blocked by a clot or bursts.

• When that happens, part of the brain cannot get
  the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to
  die.

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Do you know the warning signs?

• Stroke

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or
  leg, especially on one side of the body   
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or
  understanding   
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes   
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of
  balance or coordination   
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

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The Good News

• You can reduce your risk by
• Controlling your blood sugar
• Controlling your blood pressure
• Controlling blood cholesterol
• Stopping smoking
• Becoming physically active
• Losing excess weight
• However, you cannot control
• Increasing age
• Heredity
• Race
• Previous heart attack/stroke
• Gender

Talk to your healthcare provider about what goal
you should have for each of the controllable risk
factors above.
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Your Healthcare Team
Those with diabetes often have a large healthcare
team to support and manage their condition.

• These team members may include
• Diabetes Educator
• Dietitian
• Healthcare Providers
• Family Doctor, Endocrinologist, Cardiologist
• Nurse Practitioner
• Pharmacist
• Podiatrist (foot doctor)
• Ophthalmologist/optometrist (eye doctor)

Communication is the key!
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What can you do today?

• 1. Know your risk

2. Know the warning signs of heart attack and
stroke
3.Join The Heart Of Diabetes