If you’re among the 23.6 million Americans with diabetes or the 57 million with prediabetes, don’t overlook the health of your heart and blood vessels. Fatal heart disease and strokes are two to four times more likely if you have diabetes. In fact, diseases of the heart and blood vessels cause two out of three deaths in people with diabetes. The reason? Inflammation and insulin resistance—key causes of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes—increase levels of artery-clogging triglycerides and “bad” LDL cholesterol; reduce levels of heart-healthy HDL cholesterol; and boost blood pressure. The solution? Exercise, healthy eating, weight loss and often, medication.

• People with diabetes often have a more lethal cholesterol profile—they have more small and “very low density” LDLs, which raise heart attack and stroke risk.
• For best protection, heart experts recommend people with diabetes aim for LDLs below 100 mg/dl, HDLs above 40 mg/dl and triglycerides below 150 mg/dl.
• Three-fourths of people with diabetes have blood pressure at or higher than the recommended level of 130/80 mmHg.
• Controlling blood pressure not only cuts risk for heart attacks and strokes; it lowers your odds for complications like vision loss and kidney failure.
• Cooling off chronic, body-wide inflammation can help protect you from heart disease. Do it by exercising, eating produce and whole grains, and losing weight.

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