Similarities Between Diabetes and Heart Disease

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Diabetes is a major clinical disorder of major medical significance. Epidemiological findings suggest that a relatively large percentage of population in the United States suffers from diabetes and it is a leading cause of death. What’s more concerning is that people with diabetes are more likely at risk of developing heart disease. In fact, heart disease is a leading cause of death among people with diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels over time, which can lead to serious heart complications. Diabetes can also cause high blood pressure, which is yet another risk factor for heart disease. Let’s look at some similarities between diabetes and heart disease.

Diabetes

Diabetes, as most of us may know, is all about sugar. But sugars come in many forms. So doctors avoid the term sugar in many cases. Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when you blood sugar is too high and your body cannot use all of this sugar properly. Glucose is the primary source of energy for the cells in the body, and it requires insulin to get into the cells. In people with diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to insulin, which results in high levels of glucose in the blood. There are mainly two types of diabetes – type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is when the pancreas produces little or no insulin and Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not use insulin properly.

Heart Disease

In medical terms, any type of disease that affects the heart or blood vessels is a heart disease. It is a general term that is used to describe a wide range of heart problems. Heart disease is also known as cardiovascular disease and it encompasses a variety of conditions. The most common heart disease is the coronary artery disease (CAD) and it occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart becomes narrowed or blocked, usually due to plaque buildup, leaving less room for blood to flow. This can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart attack. There are several factors that can contribute toward heart diseases, factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Similarities between heart disease and diabetes

Chronic Conditions

– Both heart disease and diabetes are two major chronic conditions that are closely linked. People with diabetes are more likely at risk of developing heart disease or have a stroke. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to have heart disease. People with either condition must keep tabs on their health regularly, make lifestyle changes, and take medications as prescribed.

Lifestyle Factors

– Both heart disease and diabetes are strongly influenced by lifestyle factors, such as diet, physical exercise, smoking and drinking habits. Eating a diet high in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol can be a major risk factor for heart diseases and related conditions. Also, lack of physical exercise, excessive alcohol and tobacco use are potential risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. People who practice healthy lifestyle habits like eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking can lower their risk of developing either condition.

Serious Complications

– Diabetes and heart disease can both cause serious complications that can have a significant impact on your quality of life and even be fatal. Diabetes can cause nerve damage, kidney disease, and blindness, whereas heart disease can cause a heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Diabetes can be controlled, but even the glucose levels are normal it greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Summary

In a nutshell, heart disease and diabetes are closely linked because they share many similarities. For one, both are chronic conditions that necessitate ongoing management, are linked to lifestyle factors, can increase the risk of the other, and can result in serious health complications. People with diabetes or heart disease can reduce their risk of complications and improve their overall health by adopting healthy lifestyle habits and managing their condition with medication as needed.

FAQs

What is the correlation between heart disease and diabetes?

Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease. People with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease than those without diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels over time, which can lead to serious heart complications.

What are the similarities between diabetes and stroke?

People with diabetes are at increased risk for stroke because high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels over time, which increases the chance of stroke.

What are the similarities between hypertension and diabetes?

People with diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) are more likely to develop heart disease than people who do not have either of the conditions. Most patients with type 2 diabetes are resistant to insulin, and about half of the people with high blood pressure are insulin resistant.

What disease is similar to heart disease?

Conditions that are similar to heart disease are Atherosclerosis (narrowing or hardening of the arteries), Marfan Syndrome, Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), and more.

What is the correlation between diabetes and CAD?

The most common heart disease is the coronary artery disease (CAD) and it occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart becomes narrowed or blocked. Diabetes is the major risk factor for CAD. People with diabetes are more likely to have other CAD risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Why do diabetics have silent heart attacks?

Diabetics may experience silent heart attacks as a result of nerve damage caused by high blood glucose levels. This nerve damage can impair the body’s ability to feel pain, making it more difficult to detect heart attack symptoms.

Does diabetes cause high blood pressure?

Diabetes causes scarring of kidneys, which leads to salt and water retention, which ultimately cause the blood pressure to rise. 

Is diabetes a major risk factor for both heart disease and stroke?

Diabetes is a significant risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. Diabetes puts people at a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular problems, which can lead to heart disease and stroke.

How does diabetes cause stress?

Diabetes complications can be stressful and have an impact on one’s quality of life. Stress can also cause an increase in blood glucose levels, creating a difficult to break cycle.

Author: Sagar Khillar

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