How to Prevent Cardiovascular Problems in Diabetes?

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse considers Type 2 diabetes to be a metabolic disorder: an abnormal chemical process in the body that disrupts the normal breakdown and utilization of food into sugar, the usable energy form.

With Type 2 diabetes, the use of sugar by the tissues decreases despite the overwhelming level of this raw energy form in the bloodstream. The main reason for this increased blood sugar level can be traced back to the increased resistance of individual tissues to insulin, a particular hormone that helps in transporting sugar across cell membranes. At first, the pancreas tries to catch up by producing more insulin to compensate for the decreased insulin response of the cells and to increase the chances of glucose utilization by the tissues. However, in time the over-worked pancreas "bugs down" leading to gradually decreasing insulin production.

According to a study published by Circulation in 2006, in most cases, Type 2 diabetes goes hand in hand with cardiovascular disease. The reason for this is most of the risk factors that trigger the development of Type 2 diabetes are the same set of risk factors that cause cardiovascular problems:
- Poor diet
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Increased LDL and VLDL levels
- Decreased HDL or proper cholesterol levels
- Advancing age, and
- Genetic predisposition

There are some of the most common contributors to the development of these two health problems. But in spite of the overwhelming information mentioned above, do you know there are ways to prevent the onset of cardiovascular problems in Type 2 diabetics? The American Heart Association gave a very comprehensive guide to the prevention of these problems in people with Type 2 diabetes:
1. Stop smoking: Smoking can give added stress to the already-ailing heart. Smoking cessation is the best step to relieve the heart and blood vessels from further damage and stress.
2. Have reasonable blood pressure control: Aim for a blood pressure reading of less than 130/85mmHg.
3. Keep your LDL levels low: The primary goal is to have this level under 130mg/dl. Ruling out other causes of increased LDL levels such as liver problems and thyroid problems can also be of great help.
4. Keep your HDL within normal limits: HDLs are also called good cholesterols, so make sure to keep these levels up!
5. Keep your fasting blood sugar regular: You can do this by following a healthy diet and losing excess weight. And oh! Don't forget to have your dose of daily physical activity. Wear those running shoes and embrace a new life full of physical activities. Do this three to four times per week for at least thirty minutes a day. But (this is a big BUT), if all of these lifestyle modifications fail, listen to your doctor. Allow him to give you some oral anti-diabetic medications. And if this step still fails in controlling your blood sugar, don't get shocked if he starts you on insulin therapy. Controlling your blood sugar is the way to go to delay or prevent cardiovascular disease.
6. Weight management: Your goal here is to keep your Basal Metabolic Index (BMI) in the desirable range: under 25. Also, your waistline is a crucial indicator of whether you are a high-risk candidate for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Ladies: keep your waist measurement 34 inches (88cm) or less and for men 40 inches (102cm) or less.

Having a healthy lifestyle in the face of Type 2 diabetes is the only way you can prevent cardiovascular problems.