Part 4 of a series on a healthy heart.

Our hearts work hard—beating about 35 million times a year. Just like the electric company or water department, when they do their jobs right, we hardly notice.

So how can you keep your heart from needing any extra attention? Give it a little preventive TLC right now.

Know your ABCs. Do your best to keep your:

• A1C below 7% 
• Blood pressure below 130/80 
• Cholesterol (specifically the LDL/bad kind) below 100 

Hold the fat. While high cholesterol can be inherited from your parents, eating high-fat foods also contributes to the problem.¹ Cutting out saturated fats and trans fats can help you minimize your risk of heart problems. Look at the nutrition label and choose wisely.

Hold the salt, too. Eating high-sodium foods causes your body to hold onto excess water, so if you have high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend a low-salt diet. Americans get most of the salt in their diets from packaged processed foods.² Cut back on these and reduce the salt you use at the table, and you may kick your salt habit.

No smoking, please. Smoking doubles the risk of heart disease for people with diabetes.¹

Master your blood sugar. Combining regular blood glucose checks, careful meal planning and physical activity will help maintain safe blood sugar levels. The relationship is clear—managing blood sugar can lower your risk of heart-related complications.¹

Need inspiration? See what reformed diabetes-ignorer George Simmons has to say about his ongoing journey after turning over a new leaf. You'll find him at Ninjabetic.com. 

¹_{National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Available at: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/stroke/#connection. Accessed October 17, 2011.}

²_{American Heart Association. Shaking the salt habit. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTreatmentofHighBloodPressure/Shaking-the-Salt-Habit_UCM_303241_Article.jsp. Accessed October 17, 2011.}