Question: What is (are) Prevent diabetes problems: Keep your heart and blood vessels healthy ?
Answer: Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes, the leading causes of death for people with diabetes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. This booklet is about heart and blood vessel problems caused by diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems.
Source: NIDDK

Question: How to prevent Prevent diabetes problems: Keep your heart and blood vessels healthy ?
Answer: You can do a lot to prevent heart disease and stroke. - Keep your blood glucose under control. You can see if your blood glucose is under control by having an A1C test at least twice a year. The A1C test tells you your average blood glucose for the past 2 to 3 months. The target for most people with diabetes is below 7. In some people with heart disease or other special circumstances, their doctor may recommend slightly higher levels of A1C. - Keep your blood pressure under control. Have it checked at every doctor visit. The target for most people with diabetes is below 140/80, unless their doctor sets a different target. - Keep your cholesterol under control. Have it checked at least once a year. The targets for most people with diabetes are - LDLbadcholesterol: below 100 - HDLgoodcholesterol: above 40 in men and above 50 in women - triglyceridesanother type of fat in the blood: below 150 - Make sure the foods you eat are "heart-healthy." Include foods high in fiber, such as oat bran, oatmeal, whole-grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Cut back on foods high in saturated fat or cholesterol, such as meats, butter, dairy products with fat, eggs, shortening, lard, and foods with palm oil or coconut oil. Limit foods with trans fat, such as snack foods and commercial baked goods. - If you smoke, quit. Your doctor can tell you about ways to help you quit smoking. - Ask your doctor whether you should take an aspirin every day. Studies have shown that taking a low dose of aspirin every day can help reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. - Take your medicines as directed.
Source: NIDDK

Question: What causes Prevent diabetes problems: Keep your heart and blood vessels healthy ?
Answer: Narrowed blood vessels leave a smaller opening for blood to flow through. Having narrowed blood vessels is like turning on a garden hose and holding your thumb over the opening. The smaller opening makes the water shoot out with more pressure. In the same way, narrowed blood vessels lead to high blood pressure. Other factors, such as kidney problems and being overweight, also can lead to high blood pressure. Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure. If you have heart, eye, or kidney problems from diabetes, high blood pressure can make them worse. You will see your blood pressure written with two numbers separated by a slash. For example, your reading might be 120/70, said as "120 over 70." For most people with diabetes, the target is to keep the first number below 140 and the second number below 80, unless their doctor sets a different target. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor how to lower it. Your doctor may ask you to take blood pressure medicine every day. Some types of blood pressure medicine can also help keep your kidneys healthy. You may also be able to control your blood pressure by - eating more fruits and vegetables - eating less salt and high-sodium foods - losing weight if you need to - being physically active - not smoking - limiting alcoholic drinks
Source: NIDDK

Question: What are the symptoms of Prevent diabetes problems: Keep your heart and blood vessels healthy ?
Answer: A stroke happens when part of your brain is not getting enough blood and stops working. Depending on the part of the brain that is damaged, a stroke can cause - sudden weakness or numbness of your face, arm, or leg on one side of your body - sudden confusion, trouble talking, or trouble understanding - sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking - sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes or sudden double vision - sudden severe headache Sometimes, one or more of these warning signs may happen and then disappear. You might be having a "mini-stroke," also called a TIA or a transient ischemic attack. If you have any of these warning signs, call 911 right away. Getting care for a TIA may reduce or prevent a stroke. Getting prompt treatment for a stroke can reduce the damage to the brain and improve chances for recovery.
Source: NIDDK

Question: How to prevent Prevent diabetes problems: Keep your heart and blood vessels healthy ?
Answer: - Don't smoke. - Keep blood glucose and blood pressure under control. - Keep blood fats close to normal. - Be physically active. - Ask your doctor if you should take aspirin every day. You also may need surgery to treat PAD.
Source: NIDDK