World Diabetes Day is celebrated every November 14th to celebrate the contributions by Doctor Frederick Banting for co-discovering insulin. Diabetes continues to increase in prevalence and has become the disease of the 21st century.
This talk will review: The role that both pre-diabetes and diabetes have in your risk of cardiovascular events and disease progress; and the importance of measuring your blood sugars.
What is Pre-Diabetes?
Is there microvascular risk with Pre-Diabetes?
What is the metabolic syndrome and how it increases cardiovascular risk?
What is the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease?
On average someone with diabetes will have:
-
- A coronary event 15 years earlier
- 3 x increased risk of heart attack or angina
- 2-4 x increase in cardiovascular death
- Increased risk of post heart attack and post surgery complications
Vascular Aging:
The biological aging of blood vessels compared to their chronological aging. Biological vascular aging is accelerated when your cardiac risk factors are not at target. Diabetes accelerates vascular aging via its effects of vascular inflammation, pro-thrombotic state and oxidative stress.
Understanding hypoglycemia:
It increases the risk of cardiac events and cardiovascular disease progression.
Its impact on the heart and blood vessels via mechanisms of tachycardia, pro-thrombotic state, pro-inflammatory state and decrease in fibrinolysis (body’s ability to dissolve clots) effects
Know your numbers :
What are the guidelines for those living with pre-diabetes and diabetes?
Methods of Monitoring Blood Sugars
There are different ways to measure your blood sugars; at times you may be using one or more methods. One method is not better than the other; use the method that best fits your needs. Measuring your blood sugars gives you a moment to reflect of what lifestyle changes you may need to make.
-
- Bloodwork – this will be completed by your doctor and/or diabetes care provider to give them a general review of your blood sugars over the past 3 months
- Glucometer – this will allow you to check your blood sugars in real time in order to give you information to reflect and make lifestyle changes if needed – you can also provide a diary of your readings to your diabetes care provider to better guide them in your treatment
- Sensor Devices – eg; such as Libre, Dexcom – these devices provide you with blood sugar information for several hours along with other options. One of their greater advantages is providing you with readings during your sleeping hours.
Remember, you are the most important person in your diabetes care team
Want more information:
-
- Speak to your exercise therapist, general practitioner, cardiologist and/or your diabetes care provider.
- Attend Diabetes Education – ask your exercise therapist for a referral.