Diabetes and Heart Disease 101

Heart Disease Symptoms to What to Watch For

Symptoms of heart disease are commonly less intense for people with diabetes. They may include shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, sweating, chest pain, or an ache in your jaw, arm, or middle of back.

Chest pain is generally the most common symptom of heart disease -- it's your heart's signal that it is not getting enough blood or oxygen. Many times with diabetes, chest discomfort may not be noticed. Chest pain that feels like someone is squeezing or pressing on your chest may be an early sign of heart disease, but see your doctor about any type of chest pain. He or she will usually use several types of tests, including imaging and exercise stress tests, to determine whether your arteries are becoming blocked.

Treatment and Management of Heart Disease

If you have diabetes and you are diagnosed with heart disease, stay positive. You can live well and manage both conditions. It's important to keep your blood sugar under control with diet and exercise, and with diabetes medication if necessary. Your doctor might also recommend a daily aspirin and prescribe cholesterol and/or blood pressure medication. In extreme cases, your doctor may recommend heart surgery, such as a coronary bypass, to route blood flow around clogged arteries.

How to Prevent Heart Disease

Often people with heart disease don't have chest pain or other obvious symptoms. People with diabetes should have regular medical appointments to make sure that their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar are in the healthy range. In addition, it's important to eat healthfully and follow a regular exercise program. Don't be intimidated. You can find many healthful recipes for people with diabetes that are easy to make and taste great. If you are worried about your blood glucose dropping because of exercise or because you are taking other medications, review exercise options with your doctor. Even 10 minutes of activity at a time is better than remaining sedentary.