Reducing your risks
of diabetes, heart ills

Health Matters
By Dr. Joseph Fisher

I was recently diagnosed with diabetes and heart disease. Does one condition cause the other? Are there special recommendations for people who suffer both diseases?
Usually, diabetes precedes heart disease, but deciding which came first — the diabetes or the heart disease — is like the chicken-and-egg debate. That’s because so many of the risk factors are the same for both diseases — obesity, hypertension, smoking and high cholesterol.
Heart disease strikes diabetics more than twice as often as others, and it also tends to hit them harder and at younger ages. A diabetic with no signs of heart disease has the same risk of having a heart attack as a non-diabetic who has already had one heart attack. For this reason, I advise my diabetic patients to take an aspirin daily, which is known to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Diabetics should take care to maintain low cholesterol levels through healthy lifestyle practices and medication, if needed. According to the American Heart Association, lowering "bad" cholesterol can reduce the risk of having a heart attack in a diabetic by up to 42 percent.
Losing weight can also improve a diabetic’s cholesterol profile and blood glucose level — two more important preventives in heart disease. If you’re over age 50, getting a stress test as a screening precaution is also recommended.
Studies show that diabetics can cut their risk of heart disease and stroke, yet the American Diabetes Association reports that many are not taking the necessary steps to do so. To lower your heart-disease risk and improve your overall health, follow these guidelines:
• Work out a strategy with your physician to keep your blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure numbers as close to normal as possible.
• Monitor blood glucose levels regularly to see if you need adjustments in your diet or medication.
• Enroll in a smoking-cessation program if you smoke.
• Exercise to decrease body fat and improve insulin sensitivity.
• Eat low-fat meals with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods.
• Ask your physician about taking aspirin daily.
• Lose weight. ••
Dr. Joseph Fisher is section chief of endocrinology at Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center.

If you have a question you would like answered by a Holy Redeemer Health System expert, please send it to Jennifer McGowan Smith, Holy Redeemer Health System, Public Relations, 1602 Huntingdon Pike, Meadowbrook, PA 19046, or e-mail jmcgowan@holyredeemer.com