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Taking Care Of YourDiabetes Means Taking Care of Your Heart If you have diabetes, it’s even more important to take care of your heart and blood vessels. H aving diabetes means you are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. You can lower your risk if you manage your diabetes. You can live a long and healthy life by managing your blood sugar (glucose), blood pressure, and cholesterol. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage vital organs such as your kidneys and your eyes. H igh blood pressure is a serious disease that makes your heart work too hard. And bad cholesterol, or LDL, builds up and clogs your heart and blood vessels. Managing all three means a longer and healthier life. ASK YOUR H EALTH CARE PROVIDER TH ESE QUESTION S 1 What are my blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers? 2 What should they be? 3 What actions should I take to reach these goals? Use the Diabetes Record Form on the other side to write down the answers to these questions. TAKE ACTION N OW You can live longer for your family, improve your health, and reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke. n Eat the right amounts of foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. n Eat foods that are prepared with less salt, saturated fat, and trans fat. n Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. n Stay at a healthy weight—by being active and eating the right amounts of healthy foods. n Stop smoking—ask for help or call 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669). n Take medicines the way your doctor tells you to. n Ask your doctor about taking medicine to protect your heart, such as asprin or a statin. n Ask your family and friends to help you take care of your heart and your diabetes. NDEP52AIAN_TakeCareHeart_4c_508