| If you saw a tiger, you'd run for your
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| | prevention is even more urgent. Keep your
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| life. But what if you didn't see it? For
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| | heart healthy by following the ABCs of
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| those of you with type 1 or type 2
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| | diabetes prevention: Aim for A1C levels
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| diabetes, heart disease is that unseen
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| | below 7 percent, blood pressure below 130
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| tiger. You're two to four times more
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| | 80 mm Hg and LDL cholesterol below 100 mg
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| likely to develop a heart condition than
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| | dl. "Everyone with diabetes should know
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| people without diabetes? Even more
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| | their numbers and goals, and get checked
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| shocking, those individuals are more
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| | regularly," says John Buse, M.D., lead
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| likely to die from heart disease or other
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| | author of the ADA and American Heart
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| cardiovascular ills than from the
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| | Association's new joint statement on
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| complications of diabetes itself. Yet
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| | preventing cardiovascular diseases in
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| surveys show that 68 percent of Americans
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| | people with diabetes. Start with a
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| with diabetes are unaware of their
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| | healthy lifestyle: * Nutrition Eat less
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| increased cardiovascular risk. If you
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| | fatty red meat, cheese, butter, processed
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| have diabetes, now is the time to take
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| | foods and fast food; instead, choose more
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| steps to protect your heart. "High blood
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| | beans, vegetables, fruits and whole
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| glucose alters cell metabolism," says
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| | grains, along with lean meats and
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| Richard Kahn, Ph.D., chief scientific and
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| | poultry, seafood, low-fat dairy and nuts.
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| medical officer of the American Diabetes
| |
| | If you're overweight, cut some 250 to 500
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| Association (ADA). When the function of
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| | calories a day until you've lost about 7
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| platelet cells changes, the likelihood of
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| | percent of your weight. "To do this
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| blood clots increases and the risk of
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| | right, ask your doctor to refer you to a
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| heart attack rises. Cells that line the
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| | registered dietitian," Dr. Buse says. *
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| artery walls are also affected; the
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| | Exercise Each week, be sure to do a
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| ability of blood vessels to dilate is
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| | minimum of 150 minutes of
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| impaired, which can lead to high blood
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| | moderate-intensity aerobic
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| pressure. One pivotal phenomenon
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| | activity-swimming, biking, walking
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| underlying these changes is inflammation,
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| | briskly. Exercise at least every other
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| already known to promote heart disease.
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| | day. Even if your doctor prescribes
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| Researchers at the University of Virginia
| |
| | medication, don't give up on diet and
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| School of Medicine in Charlottesville,
| |
| | exercise: A healthy lifestyle not only
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| for example, found high blood glucose
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| | has broad positive effects on blood
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| linked to chronic inflammation in the
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| | glucose levels, blood pressure and
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| blood vessel walls of mice. Prevention
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| | cholesterol levels, says Dr. Buse, but
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| Works The first step to protecting your
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| | also helps you fight depression, function
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| heart? Control your glucose. In the
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| | at your best and maintain your energy.
|
| groundbreaking Diabetes Control and
| |
| | Sources: "Journal of the American College
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| Complications Trial to determine the
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| | of Cardiology," November 20, 2002;
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| effects of glucose on complications, type
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| | "Journal of the American Medical
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| 1 patients underwent intensive glucose
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| | Association," November 27, 2002, and
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| control. A later study found these
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| | January 21, 2004; "Arthritis and
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| participants were 57 percent less likely
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| | Rheumatism," 2005 supplement, Abstract
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| to die from cardiovascular disease over
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| | 149; "New England Journal of Medicine,"
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| the next 16 years. Although the findings
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| | December 22, 2005. If you have diabetes,
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| haven't been confirmed in those with type
| |
| | you can stem your risk for heart disease
|
| 2, high blood glucose levels have been
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| | by controlling your glucose levels and
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| proven to increase the risk of heart
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| | adopting a healthy lifestyle--and enjoy
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| disease in both kinds of diabetes. Says
| |
| | the years ahead in better health. Writer:
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| David Nathan, M.D., professor of medicine
| |
| | Diana Benzaia ©MDminute: Diabetes Issue
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| at Harvard Medical School and co-chair of
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| | 1, 2007
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| the type 1 study, "The major difference
| |
| | Get a FREE 2-year health magazine
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| is that people with type 2 are generally
| |
| | subscription to REMEDY. Sign up today!
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| older, heavier and more likely to have
| |
| | Also, check out HealthyUpdates.com, a
|
| hypertension and abnormal cholesterol
| |
| | health education website produced by
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| levels, all of which puts them at much
| |
| | MediZine, LLC.
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| higher risk for heart disease." For them,
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|
