Part 2 of a series on a healthy heart.

Okay. So about half of people with diabetes don't even know they're at risk for heart problems.¹ Which half are you in?

Either way, stick with us for a quick review of heart issues you'd like to avoid.

Heart problems often occur when cholesterol and triglycerides build up on the walls of blood vessels, hardening into tough deposits and limiting blood flow. People with diabetes generally have higher levels of triglycerides and lower levels of HDL (beneficial) cholesterol than people who don't have diabetes, hence the increased risk.

What's more, this affects your whole circulatory system—not just your heart. So what are we watching for?

• High blood pressure. A complication in its own right, high blood pressure also contributes to other complications. Blood pressure goes up when blocked arteries require the heart to push much harder to get blood throughout the body.
  
  
• Peripheral vascular disease. (And peripheral arterial disease.) PVD refers to blockages that decrease blood to the hands and feet. This can lead to arm or leg pain, slow-healing cuts and sores, numbness and more.
  
  
• Heart attack and stroke. A heart attack occurs when a blocked artery keeps oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart, and a stroke is the result of blocked arteries to the brain. The best ways to keep these at bay is by working closely with your doctor and keeping your blood sugar numbers in line. 
  
  
• Small blood vessel damage. Damage to the tiny vessels throughout your body causes many more well-known conditions, such as problems with the kidneys, eyes, skin and more. 

In each of these cases, the answer is the same—watching your diet, staying active, taking your recommended medications and performing blood sugar tests add up to the best defense. In fact, if recognized early, some of these can be slowed or even stopped through tighter diabetes control.²

We know that reading about potential complications can be a downer, but being informed puts you in control. And that's a healthy, motivating place to be.

_{¹American Diabetes Association. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease review. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/assets/pdfs/adacardioreview3.pdf. Accessed October 17, 2011.}

_{²American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2011 [position statement]. Diabetes Care. 2010;34(1): S11-S61. Available at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/34/Supplement_1/S11.full. Accessed October 17, 2011.}