The Effect of Diabetes on Coronary Heart Disease

Diabetes is currently the fifth deadliest disease in the United States. Diabetes increases the likelihood of developing Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), which is the leading cause of death for diabetics.

Earlier Onset

• Cardiovascular complications occur at an earlier age for diabetic people than their healthier counterparts.

Increased Risks

• Diabetes alters the way blood is pumped into the heart; the change in blood flow increases the likelihood of diabetic people having a heart attack or stroke.

Strokes

• Diabetics that have suffered a stroke are 4 times as likely to have another; those that have had at least 2 strokes are 4 times as likely to have another.

Heart Attacks

• Diabetic men and women have an increased risk of suffering a heart attack. However, women diabetics are less likely to survive a heart attack than their male counterparts.

Causes

• Chronic illness and conditions have an adverse affect on heart health. Obesity, smoking, high cholesterol levels and hypertension are all causes of CHD in diabetic people.

Mortality Rates

• Death rates for women diabetics with heart disease have increased 23% in the last 30 years, while death rates for their male counterparts have decreased by 13%. Nearly 60% of diabetics die from complications caused by CHD.