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Determining Your Risk
Determining Your RiskWhen you have diabetes, it is very important to work with your healthcare team to determine your risk factorsfor heart disease and stroke, and work to create a management plan for each of these factors.“Diabetes is a disease that contributes to systemic inflammation in the body and also makes the bloodvessels more prone to atherosclerosis or the buildup of cholesterol in the blood-vessel walls.”The good news is many of the same things you do to change one of these risk factors helps to manage otherrisk factors.Some risk factors you just can’t change like your age, how long you have had diabetes, or your family history.“There is family history of heart disease on both sides. My mother’s side, high blood pressure, stroke. Ido not remember her saying any of her siblings had a heart attack. And on my father’s side, high bloodpressure, stroke, some heart disease. So, I have the gene.”Some things you can work to improve: diabetes; high blood pressure; high blood cholesterol; smokingcessation; increasing your activity level; and weight management.Together with your diabetes care team, find out your risk factors, and discuss how you can make changes overtime to reduce those and lessen your overall risk of heart attack and stroke.This includes making healthier food choices, getting more activity, and in many cases, taking medications tohelp manage diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.Regular follow-up appointments with your diabetes care team is a very important part of your plan. At thesevisits you can see how the changes you are making are affecting your numbers through routine bloodwork.“Usually when I check my glucose level I put it in the app especially for diabetes, and you just put inyour glucose level. You can put your carbs in and also your blood pressure and even some of your labwork if you need to, and it gives you a good idea how everything has been for the last week or themonth, and it's always good to have this with you when you go to your doctors.”Ask questions that you may have. It may help to write these down before your visit, so you don’t forget to askthem.And find out what more you can do to reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke.Page 1 ofThis program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.© The Wellness Network
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