Basics
Learn More
See, Play and Learn
Resources
For You
Summary
If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes you have an increased risk for heart disease. Diabetic heart disease can be coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure, and diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Diabetes by itself puts you at risk for heart disease. Other risk factors include
- Family history of heart disease
- Carrying extra weight around the waist
- Abnormal cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
Some people who have diabetic heart disease have no signs or symptoms of heart disease. Others have some or all of the symptoms of heart disease.
Treatments include medications to treat heart damage or to lower your blood glucose (blood sugar), blood pressure, and cholesterol. If you are not already taking a low dose of aspirin every day, your doctor may suggest it. You also may need surgery or some other medical procedure. Lifestyle changes also help. These include a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and quitting smoking.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (American Heart Association)
-
Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
-
Diabetic Heart Disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Symptoms
- Know the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack (American Diabetes Association) - PDF Also in Spanish
-
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Heart Disease? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Diagnosis and Tests
- Heart Health Tests for Diabetes Patients (American Heart Association)
-
How Is Diabetic Heart Disease Diagnosed? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Taking Aspirin to Protect Your Heart (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
-
Taking Care of Your Diabetes Means Taking Care of Your Heart (Tip Sheet) (National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
- Taking Care of Your Heart (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
Treatments and Therapies
-
How Is Diabetic Heart Disease Treated? (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Medical Tests and Procedures for Finding and Treating Heart and Blood Vessel Disease (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
Living With
- Cook with Heart-Healthy Foods (American Diabetes Association) Also in Spanish
- Diabetes-Friendly Recipes (American Heart Association)
-
Living with Diabetic Heart Disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Protect Your Heart: Check Food Labels to Make Heart-Healthy Choices (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
- Protect Your Heart: Choose Healthy Fats (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
- Protect Your Heart: Make Smart Food Choices (American Diabetes Association) - PDF Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- All about Cholesterol (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
- All about Insulin Resistance (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
- All about Quitting Smoking (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
- Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, and Heart Protection (Hormone Health Network) - PDF Also in Spanish
Videos and Tutorials
-
Know Your Diabetes ABCs
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Statistics and Research
- Link between Hypoglycemia and Cardiac Arrhythmias: An Answer to Why Tight Glycemic Control May Increase Mortality in People with Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
- Patient Access to Research (American Diabetes Association)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetes Mellitus (National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetic Cardiomyopathies (National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Heart Diseases (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Women
-
Major Risk Factors for Heart Disease: Diabetes (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
-
You Are the Heart of Your Family -- Take Care of It (National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF - In English and Spanish
Patient Handouts
-
Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke (National Diabetes Education Program)
- PDF
