Diabetic vascular disease

Heart and blood vessel disease is the most serious and most common complication of diabetes. It often affects the blood vessels in the heart, brain and legs, but can affect major blood vessels anywhere in the body.

Heart and blood vessel disease starts when the lining of a blood vessel becomes damaged or inflamed. High blood glucose, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking all contribute to this.

Diabetes increases your risk for angina, heart attack, peripheral arterial disease, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke.

Prevention

Keep your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels. If you smoke, quit. Follow the lifestyle steps outlined in the “Healthy Living” section or see our diabetes resource guide.