Heart Disease Risk Higher for Women with Diabetes than for Men

A lot of people who have diabetes are aware that the condition increases their risk for heart disease. But research indicates that women with diabetes may be at much higher risk for heart disease than diabetic men. 

A study conducted in Finland found that men who had diabetes were three times more likely to develop heart disease than people without diabetes, while women with diabetes were 9.5 time more likely to do so. The women in the study were more likely than men to have obesity, high blood pressure, low levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) and high levels of triglycerides. 

If you are a woman who has diabetes, it’s important to be aggressive about the health of your heart. Be sure to get checked regularly for cardiovascular disease risk factors, and if you have these risk factors, take active steps to modify them through diet, exercise and any medication that your doctor prescribes. 

And of course, work closely with your healthcare team to keep your blood glucose under control.

Source:
Diabetes Care, December 2004