Diabetes is a disease in which the body either lacks insulin or does not produce enough insulin to breakdown ingested glucose into cells. As a result, the glucose remains in the blood and causes damage to blood vessels. A high content of glucose in the blood is called hyperglycemia and is often a precursor to having heart attacks and strokes. People who have diabetes have twice as much chance of having a heart attack and/or stroke as those without this condition.

In addition to diabetes itself being a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes, there are other risk factors that people with diabetes should be aware of in order to reduce the risk factor of having a heart attack and/or stroke. This includes central obesity; studies by the American Heart Association have indicated that while obesity by itself is a risk for a heart attack, carrying excess weight around the waist increases the risk of having a heart attack. This is believed to be due to abdominal fat increases bad cholesterol more than fat on other areas of the body.

Speaking of cholesterol, those with diabetes should carefully monitor their cholesterol carefully. Because their blood vessels could already be weakened by the excessive glucose in the blood level, their arteries could become blocked even easier than those without diabetes. Monitoring cholesterol is important for everyone, but imperative for those with diabetes.

Hypertension is also a dangerous condition for those with diabetes and could lead to heart attacks or strokes. Damaged blood vessels having to work harder to pump blood from your heart throughout your body could cause heart damage, stroke, and eye problems.

Clearly, those who have diabetes must not only, carefully monitor the disease, but be aware of the complications that can rise from diabetes. While it is important for everyone to check their blood pressure, cholesterol and maintain an ideal weight, on a regular basis it is even more important for someone who has diabetes and most doctors will ensure regular checks are made.

In order to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke for people with diabetes, it is important, first of all, to manage the disease. By eating proper foods, exercising and taking your medication, you can maintain a good glucose level in your blood that will reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes. Also by monitoring your cholesterol and blood pressure and seeing your physician on a regular basis, you can stop any potential problems before the onset of such.

Type II diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States as well as most developed regions of the western world. It does not have to be a killer. By empowering yourself to learn all you can about managing diabetes and complying with the instructions of your physician, you can live an active and long life with diabetes and have an excellent chance at reducing the risk of acquiring any of the complications associated with this disease. Knowledge and facing the situation is the key. Those who refuse to follow advice, who prefer to eat whatever they feel like, do not exercise and pretend that the disease does not exist put themselves at risk.