Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control’s National Diabetes Statistics Report for 2020, cases rose to an estimated 34.2 million, and 13% of adults aged 18 years or older had diabetes.
Cardiovascular Connection
People with diabetes are two to four times more likely than others to develop heart disease. Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle is important to manage heart disease in diabetic patients. Lifestyle changes focusing on diet, your body weight and exercise can help lower your risk of heart disease and help you manage diabetes.
Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Guidelines:
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet is associated with a 30% lower risk of cardiovascular events.
It has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This way of eating focuses on fruits, vegetables, plant-based proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.
Weight Management
Weight management is essential in the control of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Studies of weight loss show that a weight reduction of at least five percent can reduce blood pressure, reduce hemoglobin A1C - which is used to evaluate blood sugar control, reduce triglyceride levels and LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.
Exercise
Exercising at least 150 minutes per week for moderate intensity or 75 minutes for high intensity is recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA), American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Our Registered Dietitian can help you adopt a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle.
To schedule an appointment, call our office at 631-941-2000, ext. 479.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-stat-report.html