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Q.

What are the risk factors for heart disease in people with diabetes?

Related Topics: Heart Disease, Diabetes
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A.

Certain risk factors elevate the risk of heart disease, especially in people with diabetes.

Many people with diabetes have a group of risk factors for heart disease known as metabolic syndrome. And having diabetes as part of metabolic syndrome increases the risk of heart disease even more than diabetes alone. Metabolic syndrome adds several risk factors to the risk of high blood sugar, including:

  • Abdominal obesity -- a waistline greater than 35 inches in women or 40 inches in men.
  • Abnormal cholesterol levels -- a low HDL "good" cholesterol, a high LDL "bad" cholesterol, or a high triglyceride level.
  • Elevated blood pressure.

All these risk factors are related, and they tend to occur together. For example, obesity makes diabetes more likely, and most people with diabetes also have high blood pressure.

In addition, other factors can increase the risk of heart disease for people with diabetes even more. They include:

  • Smoking
  • Having a family member with heart disease
  • A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol
If you have diabetes, talking with your doctor can help identify your personal risk for heart disease.

This answer should not be considered medical advice...down arrowThis answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.up arrow

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