What is Diabetes and How Does it Affect Your Heart?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects your body's ability to process food. Much of the food you eat is converted into glucose (sugar) and released into your bloodstream. Your pancreas then releases insulin, which allows sugar to enter your body's cells to be used for energy. If you have diabetes, your body cannot produce insulin or use it properly. As a result, too much sugar remains in the blood, which can lead to heart disease. There are three types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body stops producing insulin. According to the TIB Pharmacy, it is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction. About 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin every day to survive. Currently, there is no way to control type 1 diabetes.

• Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body doesn't use insulin properly and can't keep your blood sugar at a normal level. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by eating healthy and exercising.

• Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women and usually goes away after delivery. Gestational diabetes can increase your or your child's risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

Common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst

• Increased urination (bedwetting can occur in children who have already been potty trained)

• Rapid and unexplained weight loss

• Weakness or fatigue

With type 1 diabetes, these symptoms can develop quickly and get worse. In type 2 diabetes, the signs are similar but may develop more slowly and over time. Many women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms. Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed by routine blood tests during pregnancy.

According to the CDC, if you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have heart disease or stroke as someone without diabetes. High blood sugar can affect the walls of your arteries, which can lead to plaque buildup. High blood sugar can also lead to blood clots, scar tissue formation in the heart muscle, and high blood pressure. Therefore, if you have diabetes, it is important to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle. If you have symptoms of heart disease, you may want to talk to your doctor about getting tested for diabetes.