LONDON — The number of people worldwide with diabetes is rising and with diabetes comes a higher risk for heart disease. Gosia Wamil, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, explains the connection between these two serious, chronic diseases.
People with Type 2 diabetes are up to four times more likely than the general population to die from cardiovascular causes, leading physicians to recognize the need to reduce heart disease risk in people with diabetes rather than only managing their glucose, or blood sugar, levels, Dr. Wamil says.
"Positive lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising more, developing a healthy diet and controlling blood pressure can all contribute to better heart health," Dr. Wamil says. "Studies have shown that by achieving good control of these cardiovascular risk factors, we not only significantly improve quality of life but most importantly prolong the lives of people with diabetes by on average of eight years."
