Take Care of Your Heart. Manage Your Diabetes

If you have diabetes, it’s even more important to take care of your heart and blood
vessels. Having diabetes means you are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
You can lower your risk if you manage your diabetes.

You can live a long and healthy life by managing your blood glucose (sugar), blood
pressure, and cholesterol.

Over time, high blood glucose (sugar) levels can damage vital organs such as your
kidneys and your eyes. High blood pressure is a serious disease that makes your heart
work too hard. And bad cholesterol, or LDL, builds up and clogs your heart and blood
vessels. Managing all three means a longer and healthier life.

ASK YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER THESE QUESTIONS

• What are my blood glucose (sugar), blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers?
• What should they be?
• What actions should I take to reach these goals?

Use the Diabetes Record Form on the other side to write down the answers
to these questions.

TAKE ACTION NOW

You can live longer for your family, improve your health, and reduce your risk
of heart disease or stroke.

• Eat the right amounts of foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains.
• Eat foods that are prepared with less salt and fat.
• Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
• Stay at a healthy weight—by being active and eating the right amounts of
  healthy foods.
• Stop smoking—seek help.
• Take medicines the way your doctor tells you to.
• Ask your doctor about taking aspirin.
• Ask your family and friends to help you take care of your heart and your diabete

DIABETES RECORD FORM

Goal

Take care of your heart by taking care of your blood glucose (sugar), blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Use this form to keep track of your blood glucose (sugar), blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers when you visit your doctor. Work with your provider, friends, and family to reach your goals.
 

BLOOD GLUCOSE (Sugar)

The A1C test —short for hemoglobin (HEE-mo-glo-bin) A-1-C—is a blood test that measures your average blood glucose (sugar) over the last three months.
Suggested Blood Glucose (Sugar) Goal: Below 7 on the A1C test
TEST AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR

BLOOD PRESSURE

High blood pressure is a serious disease that makes your heart work too hard.
Suggested Blood Pressure Goal: Below 130/80
TEST AT EVERY VISIT

CHOLESTEROL

Bad cholesterol, or LDL, builds up and clogs your heart and blood vessels.
Suggested Cholesterol Goal: LDL Below 100
TEST AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR

The National Diabetes Education Program is a joint program of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Website:www.ndep.nih.gov Phone: 1-800-438-5383

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