Artery disease is the largest threat that people with diabetes face. Artery damage can lead to
heart attack and
stroke. People with diabetes may have
poor blood flow in the legs. When this problem is severe, sometimes people with diabetes need amputation of a toe, foot or leg.
For many diabetics, someone in the family has had a heart attack or stroke at a young age. This family history increases the risk of heart disease. Having diabetes increases the risk, too. Diabetics are two to four times more likely than others to have a heart attack or a stroke.
Why are diabetics so prone to artery disease? It's partly because they are more likely than others to develop health problems that affect the heart. These include high blood pressure, excess weight and high cholesterol. The result is an unfortunate "package deal." The combination greatly increases the risk of artery disease.
Metabolic syndrome is very common among diabetics. If you have type 2 diabetes, you are more likely to have each of the following risks. Many people with diabetes have all of them.
