Men with diabetes mellitus are twice as likely to develop heart disease as non diabetic men.
Diabetic women are three times more likely to develop heart disease compared to non-diabetic women.
People who use insulin or tablets to control their blood sugar levels are less likely to have eye, kidney and nerve problems compared to those who have uncontrolled diabetes. We do not yet know if controlling blood sugar will decrease heart disease in people with diabetes, but experts believe that it will decrease the risk, and most current studies support this view. Monitoring and controlling your sugar intake is very important as controlling blood sugar reduces the risk of complications. High blood sugar can make your cholesterol levels increase, which increases your risk of heart disease. If you are following a strict diabetic diet your doctor may decide no other treatment is needed.