[james123]

Diabetes has an effect on the heart and arteries equivalent to ageing 15 years, new research has shown.
People with diabetes fell into the high-risk category for cardiovascular disease (CVD) 15 years earlier than those without the condition, scientists found.
They were also up to four times more likely to have CVD than healthy individuals.

Read more with other news

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http://healthnews.thegoodfriday.co.uk/diabetes_news.htm

[rzrbks]

james123

Diabetes has an effect on the heart and arteries equivalent to ageing 15 years

So, does this mean that 2 year old Diabetic can now start dating?

And how late will they be allowed stay out?




2 + 15 = 17

[duck]

Originally Posted by rzrbks

So, does this mean that 2 year old Diabetic can now start dating?

And how late will they be allowed stay out?




2 + 15 = 17

You're terrible.

Actually, I am ROFLMAO.

I have also heard here that a safe rule of thumb was for a diabetic to go about life as if they have already had a heart attack...

[lgvincent]

It is something I've been concerned about, especially when considering that most of the men in my family have had heart attacks and a large number have died from them, and they did not have diabetes. I feel with the addition of diabetes to the mix, I'm almost certain to die of a heart attack. My father was 47 years, 8 months old when had his first series of them and his first triple bypass so I can't help but feel I'm living on borrowed time.

[HelenM]

Thats why the targets for LDL cholesterol and for blood pressure are lower in diabetics than non diabetics and that (at least here) drug intervention is more aggressive to bring the levels down.

It is something I've been concerned about

I don't know how old you are now but it may be that your medical providers will be able to check for signs of problems as you get older, particularly with your family history. Certainly keeping the LDL down and the HDL up must help. Exercise also seems to benefit cardiovascular health.
Because I was 52 when diagnosed (and perhaps because I live in a country very proactive in preventative medicine) I had echo scans of heart and arteries and a stress test and will continue to have them regularly in order to intervene if necessary.

[mg_2204]

Originally Posted by HelenM

Thats why the targets for LDL cholesterol and for blood pressure are lower in diabetics than non diabetics and that (at least here) drug intervention is more aggressive to bring the levels down.

That's right! Not only do we have to strive for low blood sugars but we have to keep a close watch on LDL and BP. My LDL is at a level considered 'normal' for a non diabetic person. But because I have diabetes I must aim lower. It makes sense when you look at the bigger picture : staying healthy! And alive.

Lg, I have a very scary family history of heart disease. I am living with a sword of Damocles over my head. You don't choose your family and you certainly don't choose your genes either.

[Penny]

I have had two heart attacks, the first at age 51. My cholesterol and blood pressure were always good before this happened, now I take medication to keep it even lower. I do not have any clogged arteries, never did, and no one could ever give me a good reason for the heart attacks. I always figure it had something to do with the diabetes, until I saw the show on TV about "Broken Heart" heart disease. The first one could really have been caused by this. Also there is a rare heart disease that has only surfaced in male members of my family on my father's side, that could be responsible. My young cousin left his house for his regular morning run and dropped dead, he was 37. His brother dropped playing basketball at 20. He was saved and now lives with a pace maker. We were told it was like having a short circuit?????? The heart just stops, which is what happened to me.

[Jinx13]

I'd agree with that number. I had a fancy bypass (MIDCAB) at age 50 after several attempts to fix up a fussy artery. I don't know if it was the DM, but all attempts to prop the artery open with stents failed. The stents occluded within a few months each time as my body saw them as invaders.

Dratfully, I'm going back in for my 8th Cardiac Cath on Thursday next week. I dread that procedure. It's annoying and it's painful. Hopefully I can hold off the rest of the bypasses for a number of years. Wish me luck, okay?

Regards

[Penny]

Originally Posted by Jinx13

I'd agree with that number. I had a fancy bypass (MIDCAB) at age 50 after several attempts to fix up a fussy artery. I don't know if it was the DM, but all attempts to prop the artery open with stents failed. The stents occluded within a few months each time as my body saw them as invaders.

Dratfully, I'm going back in for my 8th Cardiac Cath on Thursday next week. I dread that procedure. It's annoying and it's painful. Hopefully I can hold off the rest of the bypasses for a number of years. Wish me luck, okay?

Regards

That's tough Jinx, I hope all goes well for you!

[KickStart101]

Geez, that's a few more among many young heart attack victims.
And many of them do not have Diabetes.

Penny, do you mind if I ask what symptoms you had? We were always told
that symptoms of heart attack was laboured breathing and a bad pain in the
chest, plus other. Then yrs. later with Women it was a pain down the arm
and numbness and dizziness, etc.

[Penny]

Originally Posted by KickStart101

Geez, that's a few more among many young heart attack victims.
And many of them do not have Diabetes.

Penny, do you mind if I ask what symptoms you had? We were always told
that symptoms of heart attack was laboured breathing and a bad pain in the
chest, plus other. Then yrs. later with Women it was a pain down the arm
and numbness and dizziness, etc.

If you had asked me that right after my first heart attack, I would have said little or no symptoms. As I have thought about it over the years, I realize there were many. The evening before we had a very stressful confrontation with a not so nice person. At that time, I felt "funny" the only way I can think about it. My legs were shaking and I felt light headed. I slept little, and got up still with the funny feeling and shaky legs. Then a few hours later, I was doing a chat with a good friend online, and I just did not feel well right. If you asked me why, I could not tell you, I just knew something was wrong. Then my feet started hurting, I can't explain that either, but I kept telling my friend they hurt and that I was feeling more and more uneasy. She kept telling me to call my doctor. I remember telling her I was going to take a hot shower and if I did not feel better I would call. The hot shower just increased the uneasy feeling, and the back of my neck hurt (but just a little, nothing anyone would be too concerned about). At this point, the "funny" feeling was getting worse, and I just kind of knew something was wrong. I asked my husband to take me to the ER. I still had no real complaints, but I just felt something was wrong. By the time we pulled up, I knew I was in trouble. My husband let me out to walk in the ER (something he feels terrible guilt over to this day). They looked at me, put me in a wheelchair, and took me to a room, where some 12year old doctor kept trying to get me to lie down. I remember taking every ounce of energy I had left to say...."I can't breathe!" That is the last thing I remember until I woke with tubes all over my body, and telling a nurse I needed to pee. (I was hooked up to a tube there to) I was told I had died and was "brought back". Four days later, all I wanted was out of there, and my amazed doctors finally let me go home. The second one was much different, I am told it was congestive heart failure. The symptoms were much different, if anyone wants to know.

[Dewey]

Truthfully, in this fast-paced world that we now live in....I don't think that Diabetes is so much the culprit of aging the heart. Rather, stress is a major factor!! People, with or without Diabetes, have been suffering heart attacks at much younger ages (as some pointed out).
That said, Diabetes doesn't help things in any regard, heart or otherwise.

Penny, I'd like to know (if you wish to PM me) about your experiences on this. Sorry if I'm being nosy, am just curious to know.

[Penny]

Originally Posted by Dewey

Penny, I'd like to know (if you wish to PM me) about your experiences on this. Sorry if I'm being nosy, am just curious to know.

Dewey, I didn't mind posting it, just did not want to hijack this post. The other one was already so long.
First, I live with 2 smokers, I quit myself when I had the first heart attack. One doctor said the CHF (congestive heart failure) was because of this, another said it was caused by the damage to my heart from the first heart attack, another said it was caused by a virus. I am not sure, but they could not find any real damage to my heart. This was one of those times when I thought I was getting a chest cold. My chest felt heavy, but not congested. I had a slight cough for several days....a strange one, just a little almost clearing your throat cough. Then I could not sleep at night unless I was almost sitting upright. When I tried to lie down I could not breathe right. This just progressively got worse. Keep in mind, I had seen my heart doctor just a few days before this started and he had pronounced my heart "in great shape". Anyway, I started not being able to walk more than a few feet without stopping to "get a breathe". Finally I gave into my husband's nagging, and called to make an appointment with my doctor...I said I thought I had a flu, and only got in because they had a cancellation. My doctor said he did not hear anything, and I did not have a fever, or any signs of congestion he could see. He was going to send me home, but said "Let's do a chest xray, just in case". Then he was asking me if someone brought me, and my husband came in and was told to get me right to the ER, as it would be faster than waiting for the ambulance. He said I was in the middle of a heart attack. This one, they put me on IV's, put oxygen in my nose (I hate this, it makes my nose bleed), and I was in the hospital for 7 days, hooked up to tubes! I did not even feel sick and wanted to go home. I was told this was because of pain medication they were administering through the IV. To tell the truth, I have had colds that made me feel worse, but was told I was in bad shape and was lucky to get through that one. Go figure!

[KickStart101]

Geez, that's scary Penny. But see, that's nothing like the symptoms
we are told about. You're amazing. My Dad died from congestive heart
failure but didn't come back. He was not a Diabetic.

[Penny]

Originally Posted by KickStart101

Geez, that's scary Penny. But see, that's nothing like the symptoms
we are told about. You're amazing. My Dad died from congestive heart
failure but didn't come back. He was not a Diabetic.

I was told women have different symptoms than men. My doctor said he had to relearn a lot of things because more women are having heart attacks, and they "have to be contrary, even about this". He thought he was funny!
Personally, I think I was just too dumb and stubborn to realize I needed help. I hate being sick, and have a hard time asking for help. My husband nags about my health issues, or I would not do anything until it is too late.
I am getting better at it though, I just have too much to do to let something like being sick get in the way.
I'm sorry about your Dad, I am pretty sure that is what killed my Dad. But he was a diabetic who drank regular Pepsi, and ate what he wanted everyday. He never took medication of any kind. I did not grow up with my Dad in my life, so just found this out from an Aunt, recently.