I’m off to Dallas today to take part in a special patient advisory council* for the American Heart Association, which is desperately trying to reach out to people with diabetes about heart health.
They’ve created a program called Heart of Diabetes (sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceuticals) and are busy gathering patient stories in video format. Now they’re trying to figure out how to further get the word out, to people with Type 2 diabetes in particular, about their increased risk of heart attack, stroke and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
They’ve posted a set of online tools that include a trackers for your glucose, blood pressure, medications and food, along with a family-tree program, and a set of online quizzes, etc.
If you’re an active Type 1 reading this, you may be tuning out about now. Sorry, but you’re not excused. Recent research confirms that the risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) in people with Type 1 remains “extremely high,” especially for women. Ugh…
I don’t like thinking about it, either.
But after connecting with the folks representing at the American Heart Association (AHA), I’m thinking this is an important public health campaign. Even if you are a Type 1, or a parent of a Type 1 child — or just about anybody on the street in America for that matter — I’m betting you know a few people with Type 2 who are on the fast track to a heart attack even as I write this.
The Challenge:
Approximately 21 million Americans live with diabetes; 90 to 95 percent of those are Type 2. Among that group, at least 65% of deaths are due to CVD, such as heart attack or stroke.
Even though CVD is the leading cause of death in people with Type 2 diabetes, most are unaware of the connection between these two diseases.
The AHA also reports that on average, only 7.3 percent of people with diabetes reach all the treatment goals for their blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Whoa — that’s low!
And btw, smoking doubles your chance of developing heart disease and multiplies your chances of having a heart attack or stroke by two to four times.
Potential Solutions:
Interestingly, a recent Kaiser study showed that giving PWDs a combination of two low-cost generic drugs, along with a daily aspirin, “can slash their risk of hospitalization for heart attack or stroke by 60%.” The study participants were given lovastatin to lower cholesterol and lisinopril to lower blood pressure.
Earlier research indicates that for every ten-point drop in the systolic blood pressure (the top number), there was almost a 20% decrease in the chance of stroke, and a 15% decrease in the chance of heart attack.
I know some people are really down on statins, but the fact is: numerous clinical studies have actually shown that statins reduce both your chance of having a heart attack, and also dying from a heart attack in case you do have one. In fact, these studies show that statins may have an additional cardiovascular health benefit separate from their effect on lowering LDL, helping to reduce inflammation of the lining of the arteries.
But before we start popping all these pills, let’s revisit nature’s most effective method for heart health: exercise!
Clinical research shows that a moderate level of physical activity (several hours a week) can decrease the risk of a heart attack by over 50%. But you do have to do something that raises your heart rate to achieve this.
Since your heart is a muscle, aerobic exercise can improve your heart’s strength, in a similar fashion to the way weight-lifting makes your 
biceps stronger.
Trying to change people’s behavior is rough going, I know, but I’m willing help the AHA help us PWDs prevent heart attacks in any way I can.
* Other members of the advisory council include Rachel Baumgartel, Sean Kelley, Scott Johnson, and David Mendosa.
Yup. My pops – a non-diabetic – has CVD (formerly called ‘hardening of the arteries,’ right?) and has had quadruple bypass surgery. Anyone wonder why his T1 child is taking a statin?
Thanks for writing about this Amy!
My Endo treats every patient, Type 1, 1.5, or 2 as if they are a heart patient because the risk of heart disease is so high!
As for me, I’m a triple threat- Type 1 Diabetes, heart disease, & strokes are rampant in my family history. I’ve been on Statin’s for years to prevent any heart and stroke complications. And as much as I HATE popping those pills- I refuse to let my family history repeat itself in the heart and stroke department. Type 1 Diabetes is enough!
Now- I’m off for a brisk walk at lunch, to exercise my heart!
Kelly K
Medications are important–I still need metformin for managing my type 2 diabetes–but I sure underestimated the effectiveness of healthy eating and exercise. It’s made a huge difference for me; I never would have realized how good I could feel until type 2 diabetes scared me into taking better care of myself.
Thanks for this timely reminder!!!!!!!! Just completed my cardiolite stress test. Do not have results, but EKG was great.
Diabetes was discovered when I was hospitalized for angina. Doctors weren’t happy to discover that after they were already in to balloon arteries and implant stent. Education is part of the key and while doctors have pamphlets around for the taking, that does not help. Most effective that I have noticed is large poster in waiting room with information on it and the same in the exam rooms.
Bob
Very good post! One can also try out eating cucumbers on a regular basis to remove fat deposited in the bloodstream and cells which is the leading cause of diabetes
High BP medication….done! Statin…….done! Baby Asprin……..done! Exercise ……Oh F!@%%. I’ve been taking these drugs for years. A PWD with Type 1 37 years, my biggest fear of complications has been a stroke. It really freaks me out. Thanks for the post I need to go work on my exercise now
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You go, dargirl (esp. 37 years – rock on!). BUT – I’m wondering, are T1′s taking bp meds even if their bp is normal? I’m down with the statin, the baby aspirin, and the exercise (uh, but the diet is sometimes kinda rich in cheese, alas…). Shall I add Lisipronil???
ps Thanks to ideas from this blog, I’m going on a Minimed CGM for one week starting this Friday – fun!
We really need a cardiovascular disease risk model for type 1 diabetes. The existing models. In 2006, researchers from University of Pittsburgh found that cardiovascular risk models are NOT predictive for patients with type 1 diabetes because risk models only exist for the general population, and patients with type 2 diabetes. This is prudent because CV disease still accounts for a majority of type 1 deaths, yet type 1 risk factors are very different from type 2, most notable are the younger average age at diabetes onset and also because the presence of diabetes complications are not considered anywhere in the current CV models.
Carb control is a critical part of controlling type 2 diabetes. I see from their quiz page that the AHA is still telling people that it’s not true that “People with Type 2 diabetes should stay away from foods with sugar in them.”
As long as they keep pushing high-carb eating, they’re doing as much harm as good.
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