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Diabetes Health Centre
Heart Disease |
Heart Disease and Diabetes
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| Managing
your blood pressure and weight can help reduce the risk of heart disease. |
Research suggests that most women are protected from heart disease prior to menopause. However, this is not necessarily true for women with diabetes. Women with diabetes are at risk for heart disease at an earlier age than women in general.
Why are women with diabetes at risk?
Studies suggest that the hormone estrogen,
produced in the ovaries, can decrease the risk of heart disease through increasing
the production of HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol, and decreasing LDL cholesterol or the "bad" cholesterol.
Estrogen also helps to relax the smooth muscle in the blood vessels and decrease
thickening of the blood. At menopause, a decrease in estrogen increases the risk
of heart disease. In women with diabetes, estrogen does not appear to offer this
protection, regardless of age. Extensive research has not clearly identified
the cause of increased heart disease risk in women with diabetes, but it is believed
that high blood glucose, high levels of insulin in women with type 2 diabetes,
high cholesterol and blood pressure, being over-weight and smoking are some of
the factors.
What can be done to reduce the development of heart disease?
Studies suggest that the risk that women with diabetes face may be reduced through a combination of factors. These include:
- achieving a healthy weight, especially around the waist, through healthy eating and exercise
- lowering of blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- not smoking
- reducing stress
- improving blood glucose levels
All of these activities also promote better diabetes management. For more details on preventing cardiovascular disease, visit our Cardiovascular Health Centre
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