Having diabetes puts you at higher risk for a number of cardiovascular (heart and circulation system) problems. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you:
- monitor cholesterol levels and treat them if they are high (target levels for cholesterol are lower than for someone without diabetes)
- be treated with heart medications called ACE inhibitors or ARBs to protect your arteries
- take low-dose aspirin daily - talk to your doctor to determine if ASA is right for you
- monitor your blood pressure and treat it if it is high (target levels for blood pressure are lower than for someone without diabetes)
What can you do to help control your blood pressure?
Consult your doctor about your "target" blood pressure. Monitor your blood pressure regularly as recommended by your doctor. Many pharmacies sell blood pressure cuffs that you can easily use at home. If you discover your blood pressure is higher than it should be, speak to your doctor. You may need to adopt some lifestyle changes (see below) or take a medication (or combination of medications) to help lower your blood pressure. Some things you can do to help control your blood pressure include:
- follow a low-fat, low-salt diet (such as the DASH diet)
- exercise regularly
- keep a healthy body weight
- manage stress
- reduce the amount of alcohol that you drink
- try to quit smoking