DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE

A few years ago, when I had my annual extreme physical, they asked a lot of questions about my heart then did an echocardiogram.  A little over an hour later, I received a call giving me a time for an appointment with my cardiologist.  That got me noticing some things about diabetes and heart disease, such as the fact that if you are a diabetic you are 2 to 4 times more likely to die of heart disease than the nondiabetic.  In fact 65% percent of diabetics who die, die from heart disease.  Wow, I didn't know that. Too much glucose in the blood can damage the heart and blood vessels leading to heart disease and stroke.  Since my dad (who was not a diabetic) died of a ruptured aorta and my mom (who was a diabetic) died after having a massive stroke, these facts got my attention.

Diet plays a major role in controlling diabetes and avoiding the problems it can cause.  Eat right by eating lots of fresh (or frozen) fruits and vegetables.  Use only whole grain rice, pasta, cereals, lean meats, fish, poultry.
Avoid foods high in trans fats, saturated fats, fat meats, sugar, and commercially baked goods.

You can have a lot of control over your disease by the way you eat.  After all it is your life, you are protecting!