Daily HealthBeat Tip - December 20, 2007

Cutting the odds

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Diabetes raises the risk of heart disease. But a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention delivers promising information. 

Researchers looked at data on people with diabetes who were 35 or older. The proportion who said they had a cardiovascular condition fell by 11 percent between 1997 and 2005. The study is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Researcher Nilka Ríos Burrows tempers that advance with some caution:

``The findings are encouraging, but it does not mean that we need to stop what we’re doing, and say, `Job well done.’’’ We need to continue our efforts to prevent heart disease, with renewed energy and commitment.’’ (10 seconds)

This includes carefully managing blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol -- and to prevent diabetes, weight control and physical activity.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May, 26 2008