While diabetes is not one of the Heart Lung Vascular Institute’s primary diagnoses, up to one-third of its patients have this disease. More than 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke, according to the American Diabetes Association. In fact, in people with diabetes, heart attacks occur earlier in life and are more likely to result in death.

Diabetes is a disorder affecting the body’s ability to process sugar. It also can cause blood vessel damage throughout the body, including the brain, and if blood sugar levels are high at the time of a stroke, then brain damage often is more severe. Keeping diabetes under control can help delay or prevent complications that increase stroke risk.

There are three types of diabetes.

• Type 1 diabetes usually is diagnosed in childhood. The body makes little or no insulin, and daily injections of insulin are required to sustain life. Without proper daily management, medical emergencies can arise.

• Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 and makes up 90 percent or more of all cases of diabetes. It usually occurs in adulthood. Here, the pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to the growing number of older Americans, increasing obesity and failure to exercise.

• Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a person who does not have diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms

Almost everyone with diabetes has abnormal cholesterol levels, which increases their risk for heart attack and stroke. However, many symptoms seem harmless and may not raise awareness of the disease. The following are some of the symptoms someone may experience.

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Blurry vision
• Extreme hunger
• Irritability
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue

Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes is controlled with diet, physical activity and medications. There is no cure for diabetes. The immediate goals are to stabilize your blood sugar and eliminate the symptoms of high blood sugar. The long-term goals of treatment are to prolong life, relieve symptoms and prevent long-term complications such as heart disease and kidney failure.

Work with your healthcare provider or nutritionist to determine what your treatments should involve.

Diabetes Prevention

Maintaining an ideal body weight and an active lifestyle may prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Currently, there is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.

If you have Type II diabetes, weight reduction and exercise can reduce your risk of heart disease. Compared to women of the same age without diabetes, women with diabetes have from three to seven times the risk of heart disease and heart attack and are at much greater risk of having a stroke. People with diabetes often have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and are overweight, increasing their risk even more. Diabetes doubles the risk of a second heart attack in women but not in men.

To schedule an appointment, call toll-free 1.877.UT.CARES (1.877.882.2737).