Diabetes and Heart Disease

For people with diabetes, heart disease can be a serious health problem. Many people don’t know that having diabetes means that you have a greater chance of having heart problems such as a heart attack or stroke. Taking care of your diabetes can also help you take care of your heart. Use the tools in this tip sheet to help. They are:

• A list of things you can do such as eating healthy foods and getting more active.
• A form to write down and track your A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers.

This publication has been reviewed by NDEP for plain language principles. Learn more about our review process.

What you can do now

Ask your health care team these questions:

• What can I do to lower my chances of getting heart disease?
• What should my goals be for A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol?
• What can I do to reach these goals?
• Should I take medicine that can protect my heart such as aspirin or a statin?

Eat well.

• Eat foods that are high in fiber such as whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, lentils, beans, fruits, and vegetables.
• Eat foods with heart-healthy fats such as fish, nuts, seeds, and avocado.
• Eat foods low in saturated and transfats such as lean meat, chicken without the skin, fish, and non-fat or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese.
• Use oils when cooking food instead of butter, cream, shortening, lard, or stick margarine.
• Limit desserts such as cookies and ice cream to only 1 or 2 times a week.
• Eat smaller amounts of foods that are high in fat, sugar, or salt. For example, if you want french fries, order the kid-sized portion.
• Bake, broil, or grill food instead of frying.
• Do not add salt to food.

Stop smoking.

• Ask for help or call 1-800-784-8669 (1-800-QUIT-NOW).

Be active.

• Be active for 30 minutes or more each day. It’s okay to be active for 10 minutes at a time, 3 times a day.
• Walk, dance, swim, or ride a bike.

Take your medicine.

• Take medicines the way your doctor or health care team tells you to.
• Do not stop taking your medicines until you talk to your doctor.
• Ask your pharmacist or doctor any questions you have about your medicines.

Cope with stress as best you can.

• Ask for help if you feel down. Talk to a mental health counselor, member of the clergy, friend, or family member who will listen to your concerns.
• Tell your family members and friends how they can best help and support you.

Your Diabetes Record Form

Use this form to keep track of your A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers. These terms are explained below the Diabetes Record Form.

• Write down the date and results for each test or blood pressure check you get.
• Take this form with you on your health care visits. Show it to your health care team.
• Talk about your goals and how you are doing.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Diabetes Education Program(NDEP) is jointly sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the support of more than 200 partner organizations.