| If you saw a tiger, you'd run for your
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| | older, heavier and more likely to have
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| life. But what if you didn't see it? For
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| | hypertension and abnormal cholesterol
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| those of you with type 1 or type 2
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| | levels, all of which puts them at much
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| diabetes, heart disease is that unseen
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| | higher risk for heart disease." For them,
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| tiger. You're two to four times more
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| | prevention is even more urgent.
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| likely to develop a heart condition than
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| | Keep your heart healthy by following the
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| people without diabetes? Even more
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| | ABCs of diabetes prevention: Aim for A1C
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| shocking, those individuals are more
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| | levels below 7 percent, blood pressure
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| likely to die from heart disease or other
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| | below 130/80 mm Hg and LDL cholesterol
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| cardiovascular ills than from the
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| | below 100 mg/dl.
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| complications of diabetes itself. Yet
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| | "Everyone with diabetes should know their
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| surveys show that 68 percent of Americans
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| | numbers and goals, and get checked
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| with diabetes are unaware of their
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| | regularly," says John Buse, M.D., lead
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| increased cardiovascular risk.
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| | author of the ADA and American Heart
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| If you have diabetes, now is the time to
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| | Association's new joint statement on
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| take steps to protect your heart.
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| | preventing cardiovascular diseases in
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| "High blood glucose alters cell
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| | people with diabetes. Start with a
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| metabolism," says Richard Kahn, Ph.D.,
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| | healthy lifestyle:
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| chief scientific and medical officer of
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| | Nutrition
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| the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
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| | Eat less fatty red meat, cheese, butter,
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| When the function of platelet cells
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| | processed foods and fast food; instead,
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| changes, the likelihood of blood clots
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| | choose more beans, vegetables, fruits and
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| increases and the risk of heart attack
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| | whole grains, along with lean meats and
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| rises. Cells that line the artery walls
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| | poultry, seafood, low-fat dairy and nuts.
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| are also affected; the ability of blood
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| | If you're overweight, cut some 250 to 500
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| vessels to dilate is impaired, which can
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| | calories a day until you've lost about 7
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| lead to high blood pressure.
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| | percent of your weight. "To do this
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| One pivotal phenomenon underlying these
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| | right, ask your doctor to refer you to a
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| changes is inflammation, already known to
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| | registered dietitian," Dr. Buse says.
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| promote heart disease. Researchers at the
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| | Exercise
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| University of Virginia School of Medicine
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| | Each week, be sure to do a minimum of 150
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| in Charlottesville, for example, found
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| | minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic
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| high blood glucose linked to chronic
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| | activity-swimming, biking, walking
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| inflammation in the blood vessel walls of
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| | briskly. Exercise at least every other
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| mice.
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| | day.
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| Prevention Works
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| | Even if your doctor prescribes
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| The first step to protecting your heart?
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| | medication, don't give up on diet and
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| Control your glucose. In the
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| | exercise: A healthy lifestyle not only
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| groundbreaking Diabetes Control and
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| | has broad positive effects on blood
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| Complications Trial to determine the
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| | glucose levels, blood pressure and
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| effects of glucose on complications, type
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| | cholesterol levels, says Dr. Buse, but
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| 1 patients underwent intensive glucose
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| | also helps you fight depression, function
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| control. A later study found these
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| | at your best and maintain your energy.
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| participants were 57 percent less likely
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| | Sources: Journal of the American College
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| to die from cardiovascular disease over
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| | of Cardiology, November 20, 2002; Journal
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| the next 16 years.
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| | of the American Medical Association,
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| Although the findings haven't been
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| | November 27, 2002, and January 21, 2004;
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| confirmed in those with type 2, high
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| | Arthritis and Rheumatism, 2005
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| blood glucose levels have been proven to
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| | supplement, Abstract 149; New England
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| increase the risk of heart disease in
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| | Journal of Medicine, December 22, 2005.
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| both kinds of diabetes. Says David
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| | If you have diabetes, you can stem your
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| Nathan, M.D., professor of medicine at
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| | risk for heart disease by controlling
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| Harvard Medical School and co-chair of
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| | your glucose levels and adopting a
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| the type 1 study, "The major difference
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| | healthy lifestyle-and enjoy the years
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| is that people with type 2 are generally
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| | ahead in better health.
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