Diabetes is commonly associated with a greater risk for
blindness, infections and amputation. Those are serious
problems. But adults with diabetes are also two to four times
more likely than those without diabetes to die from heart
problems or to have a stroke. In fact, cardiovascular disease is
the leading cause of early death for people with diabetes. Over
time, high blood sugar levels are associated with more fatty
deposits in the walls of blood vessels. Fatty materials can
build up and form a plaque. This can narrow or block blood
vessels. Plaque can make it more likely that a clot will form.
This can restrict blood flow to your heart. Controlling your
blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol can help lower your
risk of heart disease. You should get regular tests for all of
these. And if all of these levels are normal, that's fantastic.
It's absolutely vital that you keep them in the normal range by
maintaining a healthy lifestyle and following your diabetes
management program. However, others with dia