You may have heard that people with diabetes are at risk for many health complications, including cardiovascular disease. As it turns out, cardiovascular disease is especially common among people with diabetes. Most people with type 2 diabetes will eventually develop cardiovascular disease. Most people have probably heard of cardiovascular disease. Few understand exactly what it involves. Doctors use the term to describe many conditions that affect blood circulation in the body:

• Heart disease happens when blood circulating to the heart muscle is slowed or stopped because of a blocked artery. It can result in chest pain or a heart attack. It can even lead to sudden death.
• Heart failure happens when the heart loses its ability to pump blood as it should. Heart failure can be caused by a number of factors. These include damage to the heart. Or blocked arteries and high blood pressure.
• Stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked. This is the most common type of stroke. It is often caused by a blood clot or blocked arteries.
• Peripheral arterial disease is blockages in the arteries to the legs and feet.

Most people think of obesity when they think of cardiovascular disease. But another strong risk factor is age. Your risk of developing the disease goes up at age 40. It's highest after age 70. People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely than others to develop cardiovascular disease. It's the most common cause of death in people with diabetes because this risk is so high. Not getting enough exercise also puts you at risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Get medical care if:

• You have chest discomfort when you walk or exercise.
• You have chest pain along with tiredness (fatigue) or shortness of breath.
• Your resting heart rate is usually faster than 100 beats per minute.

Women may have stomach upset. Young men may have erectile dysfunction. Older adults may have confusion or fainting (syncope). These are all warning signs of a possible heart attack. But symptoms are not the same for everyone.

Doctors will first look to your family health history if they suspect cardiovascular disease. Did your mother, father, brothers, or sisters have heart trouble? Your risk of developing the disease is higher if you have family members with it. Other risk factors include high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes.

Doctors use a variety of tests to find cardiovascular disease:

• A blood test can show whether you have high levels of c-reactive protein. This is a marker that you're at higher risk.
• An electrocardiogram will show whether your heart's electrical activity is normal. For example, a stress test on a treadmill will give more information that may lead to diagnosis. Your doctor may "stress" your heart by injecting medicine through an I.V. (intravenous) line if you're not able to walk on a treadmill. It can make the heart beat fast and imitate the stress of exercise.
• An echocardiogram makes pictures of the heart to show how well the muscles of the heart can squeeze and pump blood.
• CT scans can be used to see heart arteries and look for calcium. Calcium is a marker for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Now is the time for action if your risk of developing cardiovascular disease is high. You can reduce your risk, starting today, by making the following lifestyle changes. Ask your doctor to help you:

• Quit smoking.
• Lose weight.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Exercise.
• Control your blood pressure.
• Improve your cholesterol levels.
• Manage your stress.
• Find out if using aspirin therapy would help you.
• Set a hemoglobin A1C goal if you have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes. A1C is the average level of blood sugar over 2 to 3 months. Then work with your doctor to reach that goal.