DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE

Diabetes and Heart
Disease
BAYER HEALTH FACTS
EASY ACCURACY. ANSWERED BY BAYER.
American Association
of Diabetes Educators

---

DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE
Diabetes raises your risk of getting heart disease by 2 to 4
times. You can lower that risk if you follow a healthy lifestyle
plan. What is a healthy lifestyle plan? It begins with keeping
your diabetes in control and being aware of your diet and
exercise. It also means knowing your blood fat levels and
lowering other risk factors. Everyone should have a healthy
lifestyle plan, but it is really key for people with diabetes.
HELPFUL DEFINITIONS:
Lipids – blood fats
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cholesterol – a waxy, fat-like substance made by the liver
that helps your cells function. Your body makes some
cholesterol, and you also get it in the food you eat.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) – known as the “bad
cholesterol” because it sticks to the walls of your blood
vessels.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) – known as the “good
cholesterol” because it carries away the sticky (LDL)
cholesterol.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Triglycerides – another kind of fat in your blood.
Levels can go up after eating a high fat meal.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lipid Profile – a series of lab tests including LDL, HDL
and triglycerides.

---

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS
FOR HEART DISEASE?
There are many risk factors for heart disease. These include:
• Age: men over 45 years old • Low HDL
women over 55 years old
• High LDL
• Family history of
• High Triglycerides
heart disease
• High Cholesterol
• Smoking
• Little or no daily exercise
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk. Since
you can’t control some of these factors, it helps to change
what you can control, like lowering your cholesterol. Talk to
your healthcare team about your risk.
HOW DO I LOWER
MY CHOLESTEROL LEVELS?
Your healthcare team can help you come up with a healthy
lifestyle plan. This chart will give you an idea of what your
team looks for, and what they might recommend.
Type of
Best result
Risk goes up
blood fat
when levels are:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cholesterol
Less than
HIGH
200 mg/dL
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LDL
Less than 100
HIGH
(bad
mg/dL if you
cholesterol) have diabetes
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
HDL
More than
LOW
(good
40 mg/dL (Men)
cholesterol) 50 mg/dL
(Women)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Triglycerides Less than
HIGH
150 mg/dL

---

WHAT TO DO
TO LOWER YOUR RISK:
• Cholesterol – Eat less saturated fat and less cholesterol
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• LDL – Eat less saturated fat and less cholesterol
– Maintain a healthy weight
– Take medication (if prescribed)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• HDL – Exercise regularly
– Stop smoking
– Maintain a healthy weight
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Triglycerides – Cut down on alcohol

– Exercise regularly
– Maintain a healthy weight
– Eat fewer simple sugars
– Eat less saturated fat
– Take medication (if prescribed)
– Keep your blood sugar under control
WHAT’S WRONG WITH A
LITTLE FAT?
Nothing. But Americans tend to get a lot more than ”a
little“. Fats are part of a healthy diet. However, fats are
very high in calories. In fact, one gram of fat has 9 calories,
whereas carbohydrate food like a plain potato (no butter!)
has only 4 calories per gram. We all know that eating too
much fat will make you put on weight. That’s why only
about 30% of your total daily calories should come from fat.

---

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN DIFFERENT KINDS
OF FAT?
Not all fats are created equal. In fact, some fats are better
for you than others. Dietary fats, found in foods, can raise
LDL & Total cholesterol when eaten in large amounts. The
following list describes the different kinds of fat in food,
from good to bad.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Monounsaturated fats – found in vegetables and plants
(olive, canola and peanut). These are liquid at room tempera-
ture. These have no significant effect on cholesterol.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Polyunsaturated fats – found in vegetable or plant oils (sun-
flower, safflower, corn, soybean, sesame and cottonseed) as
well as in fish. These are also liquid at room temperature.
They tend to lower LDL a little.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Saturated fats – found in foods of animal origin (meat,
dairy products), and tropical oils (palm, coconut, and cocoa
butter). These are solid at room temperature. Saturated fats
raise LDL & Total cholesterol, and should make up no more
than 10% of your total calories.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trans fats or Hydrogenated fats – poly or monounsaturated
fats that are changed to act like saturated fats (margarine,
shortening). They are used in baked goods (cookies, pie,
pastry) and fast foods.
These have been made
solid at room temperature.
They raise cholesterol
(like saturated fat does).

---

HOW CAN I AVOID TOO MUCH
FAT IN MY DIET?
To cut down on fat and cholesterol in your diet, try these tips:
• Broil, bake, steam, barbeque (grill) or microwave rather
than fry
• Season with herbs and lemon juice rather than butter or
margarine
• Choose fat-free or low-fat dairy products
• Choose lean cuts of meat—trim off the fat
• Avoid bacon, sausage and fatty lunch meats
• Remove the skin from chicken and turkey
• Choose fresh vegetables—avoid sauces and butter
• Choose fat-free or low-fat salad dressing
• Use half of the fat that a recipe calls for
• Limit creamy sauces (toppings) – ask for them on the side
• Limit fast food
ARE THERE ANY FOODS
THAT CAN HELP?
Foods that are high in fiber can help lower cholesterol and
control your weight. There are two kinds of fiber, soluble and
insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water, and is found in
beans, barley, and some
fruits and vegetables.
It may help to lower
high blood cholesterol
levels and keep blood
sugar levels under
control. Insoluble fiber
does not dissolve in
water, and is found in wheat bran,
whole grains, and vegetables.

---

Insoluble fiber helps digestion. This fiber holds onto water,
and helps keep you “regular”and helps prevent constipa-
tion. A high-fiber, low-fat diet may help reduce the risk
of some types of cancer. Both kinds of fiber are part of a
healthy diet—make sure you get enough.
• Eat 5 or more servings of fresh vegetables and fruits a day
• Choose raw vegetables and whole fresh fruit with the skin
• Choose whole grain breads, oatmeal and brown rice
• Eat low-salt beans, peas and lentils instead of red meat a
few days a week
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Make healthy choices.
• Eat balanced meals
• Become more active
• Check your blood sugar
• Take your medicines as directed
• Visit your healthcare team
• Take time to relax
• See a diabetes educator or attend a diabetes

program/support group
• Learn more about diabetes and your health (see our Bayer
Health Facts brochures on Take Charge of Your Diabetes,
Over-the-Counter Drugs, Blood Sugar Testing, Ketone
Testing, and A1C Testing — also available on-line at Bay-
erDiabetes.com/US)

---

Having diabetes raises the risk for heart disease. You already
make healthy choices to control your diabetes. Many of these
choices can also help lower your risk of heart disease. Eating
properly, staying active, and working with your healthcare
team will go a long way in keeping you healthy. Just remem-
ber—the power to manage your diabetes is in your hands.
For more information about Diabetes Care
Systems and support from Bayer, or help with
your diabetes testing supplies,
call our toll-free Customer Service Help Line at
1-800-348-8100 (24 hours, 7 days a week).

You can also visit our web site at:
www.BayerDiabetes.com/us
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For more help in managing your diabetes,
see a diabetes educator. To find an educator:
www.diabeteseducator.org
© 2007 Bayer HealthCare LLC, Diabetes Care, Tarrytown, NY 10591
0391906 Rev. 4/07

---