Smoking

Smoking is a definite cause of atherosclerosis. There is no argument about this in medical and scientific circles. Smoking is bad for everyone, but especially for people with diabetes. If you are a smoker, stop now. Smoking is so dangerous that you should stop even at the expense of a temporary gain in weight, although obviously it is better not to gain weight if possible. If you are a non-smoker, do not start smoking.

Blood fats

Although elevation of the blood glucose is the most obvious abnormality in your body chemistry, fat metabolism is also affected. This may have the effect of raising your blood fat levels and making the development of arteriosclerosis more likely. It is therefore particularly important that anyone with diabetes does not eat excessive amounts of fat. Most researchers also think that the fat that diabetics eat should be low in saturated fats and high in polyunsaturates, but a few feel that this point is still debatable. As well as reducing fat, keeping to a high fibre diet is helpful in preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

Hypertension

High blood pressure of hypertension is more common among diabetics than non-diabetics. Various effects of diabetes, including atherosclerosis, contribute to this. The important message is that you should have your blood pressure checked at least once a year. If it is high it should be treated, because high blood pressure can put a strain on the heart and also lead to kidney damage and strokes. It may also add to the effects of diabetic angiopathy.

If your doctor starts giving you treatment for hypertension, you must continue to take the pills for ever, or until the doctor tells you to stop. There are many different pills for the treatment of hypertension. If those you are taking do not agree with you, do not just stop taking them, but tell your doctor so that he or she can choose another drug that may suit you better.

Beta-blocking drugs (for example, propranolol, atenolol, metoprolol and other -olols) may reduce or suppress the warning signs of hypoglycemia. This effect is more frequent with so-called non-selective or more widely active beta-blockers. Thiazide drugs (for example, bendrofluazide) may increase the blood glucose level and sometimes make mild, previously undetected, diabetes obvious. Thiazides cause diuresis or urinary water loss. Other diuretic drugs may be used to treat hypertension and can also increase the blood glucose level (for example, frusemide or bumetanide). Diuretic drugs cause sodium and potassium loss in the urine. Chlorpropamide can also produce a low blood sodium level and this may occasionally cause symptoms.

Many doctors advise people with hypertension to avoid added salt in their diet. There is still some controversy over this but it seems sensible to avoid excess salt. The food we eat contains what we need before flavouring is added.

Obesity

Being fat makes high blood pressure worse and also places a strain on your heart. It makes your cells resistant to the action of insulin. The solution is obvious.

Exercise

Regular exercise is also good for the circulation and the heart and helps keep your body sensitive to the effects of insulin. If you have poor circulation in the legs, regular exercise of the leg muscles, such as walking, helps alternative circulation to develop and improves the blood supply.

Always bear these points in mind:

1. Hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis is more common in diabetics than in non-diabetics.

2.   Atherosclerosis can cause poor circulation in the legs, coronary artery disease (angina, heart attacks), high blood pressure and strokes.

3.   Much can be done to prevent atherosclerosis.

4. If you smoke stop. If you do not smoke – do not start.

5.   Reduce your intake of fats. It is probably better to eat polyunsaturated rather than saturated fats.

6.   Eat a high fibre diet.

7.   Avoid added salt.

8.   Watch your blood pressure.

9.   Do not get fat.

10. Exercise regularly.

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