Diabetes is caused when the blood glucose levels in the body are higher than normal. The body breaks the food into glucose and carries it to all the cells of the body which is converted to energy using insulin (hormone). There are two types of diabetes namely Type 1 – when the body doesn’t make enough insulin and type 2- when the body doesn’t use insulin properly. The higher the person’s blood sugar level is the higher the chances of developing heart diseases. Compared to people who do not have diabetes, people having diabetes are at an elevated risk of heart disease even at a young age. On World Heart Day 2018, let's bring our attention towards the connection between the two.

Three Ways In Which Diabetes Affects The Heart

Just like smoking, hypertension and high cholesterol, diabetes itself is a serious risk factor for heart disease. People with T2DM are at same risk of suffering a cardiac arrest or heart attack like those who have a history of heart attack. What is The Difference Between Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack?

Diabetes, when combined with other risk factors like obesity, overweight and metabolic syndrome, causes harmful physical changes to the heart. People with a history of cardiac disease treatment like bypass grafting, angioplasty etc tend to have less success if the blood sugar level is uncontrolled. 5 Things That Make Indians Prone To Heart Diseases.

Diabetes increases the risk of heart diseases as it raises the cholesterol levels in the blood and hardens the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Moreover, diabetics are overweight which furthermore worsens it and raises the risk of heart diseases.

1. Coronary Heart Disease – with raised cholesterol levels in diabetics, plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. This plaque narrows the coronary arteries and reduces the blood flow to the heart muscles and can lead to clot formation. This lead to blockage of blood flow causing chest pain, irregular heartbeats, heart attack and even death.

2. Heart Failure – when the heart is unable to pump blood to meet the body’s requirements, it puts a load on heart muscles leading to heart failure. This doesn’t mean that the heart has stopped working but its pumping ability has reduced. This is a serious medical condition that can make you easily tired, limit your activities and weaken the heart muscles with time.

3. Cardiomyopathy – this disease damages the structure and functioning of the heart in those who have diabetes. The disease can lead to heart failure and abnormal beat. Interesting Facts about the Human Heart That You Didn't Know Of.

Effects of Diabetes

1. Atherosclerosis –Plaque builds up inside the arteries and progresses with age. Following factors damage the inner layer of the coronary arteries –

· High Blood Pressure

· Smoking

· Uncontrolled diabetes

· High cholesterol levels in the blood

2. Metabolic Syndrome – A group of risk factors that raises CHD and T2DM

· Obesity causes changes in body fat and the way the body utilises insulin.

· Chronic inflammation raises the risk of CHD and heart diseases

Controllable Risk Factors

· Unhealthy cholesterol levels in the blood – high levels of LDL and low levels of HDL

· Hypertension – high levels of blood pressure (above 140/90mm Hg)

· Smoking – damages and tightens the blood vessels, diminishing the blood supply to all parts of the body.

· Obesity – leads to diabetes and other heart diseases

· Lack of physical activity

· Stress

· Following an unhealthy diet.

Risk Factors that Cannot be Controlled

· Age- (With increasing age, the risk of heart diseases also doubles)

· Gender (Younger age men are more prone to heart diseases than women.)

· Family history of heart disease

· Preeclampsia

How to Treat Heart Disease due to Diabetes

The main goal to treat heart disease due to diabetes includes:

· Controlling diabetes and high blood pressure & cholesterol

· Relieving chest pain and heart disease symptom

· Preventing or delaying heart disease complications

· Repairing heart and coronary artery damage

Treatment involves lifestyle changes, medicines and surgical procedures.

1. Lifestyle Changes

· Follow a healthy balanced diet

· Maintaining a Healthy Weight

· Being Physically Active

· Quitting Smoking

· Managing Stress

2. Medicines

· Treatment for Heart Failure

· Blood Sugar Control

· Blood Pressure Control

· Cholesterol Control

Controlling blood sugar levels is good for heart health. That's why Indians should take all the measures to bring their sugar levels in control through lifestyle changes and medication.

(This article has been contributed for World Heart Day by Dr Naresh KumarGoyal, Associate Director - Interventional Cardiology, Max Super Speciality Hospital)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 08:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).