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Diabetes and Your Heart and Blood Vessels
Heart and blood vessel disease is the biggest problem for people with diabetes. Heart attacks and strokes can result from heart and blood vessel disease. Poor blood flow (circulation) in the legs and feet can also be a result of this disease.
Your health care provider team will do tests to check for heart and blood vessel disease. Annually, have a blood test to see your blood cholesterol level. With every visit to your provider, they should take your blood pressure. Circulation may also be checked in your neck, legs, and feet.
Best methods for prevention of heart and blood vessel disease is to take good care of your diabetes and yourself.
- Keep your blood glucose on track. Know your A1C. The target for most people is under 7.
- Eat foods that are low in fat and salt.
- Exercise regularly.
- If you smoke, quit.
- If needed, lose weight.
- Find out from your health care support team whether you should take an aspirin every day.
- Maintain your optimum blood pressure. A good target for most people is under 130/80. Take medicine to control your blood pressure, if needed.
- Maintain your optimum cholesterol leve. The target LDL cholesterol level is under 100 for most people. Take medicine to control your blood fat levels, if needed.
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