Prevent or control diabetes, reduce your risk for heart disease
|PATIENT STORIES: JUDY HENDERSON, 66 If you have diabetes,
you're much more likely to have heart disease, a heart attack or
a stroke. In fact, two out of three people with diabetes die
from heart disease or stroke. But you can cut your chances of
having these problems by taking special care of your heart and
blood vessels. Judy Henderson, 66, of Naperville, took action
and now has her diabetes under control. "I was discouraged,"
says Henderson. "For six years my A1C scores had been going up,
even though I was taking insulin." A1C, a test of average blood
glucose levels over two to three months, is a key indicator of
how well diabetes is controlled. "In March 2010 when my score
reached 7.5 – it's supposed to be under 7 – my doctor sent me to
the Edward Diabetes Center. Three months later, my A1C was 6.1
and I'd lost 35 pounds, without focusing on losing weight. Now I
need less medication and feel much better." Staff at the Edward
Diabetes Center w