Diabetes and Metabolic Health

Diabetes increases the risk for certain types of health complications. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA):

“People with diabetes are more likely to be overweight and to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. At least one out of every five overweight people has several metabolic problems at once, which can lead to serious complications like heart disease. ‘Cardiometabolic risk’ means that if you have one of these problems, you are at higher risk for having the others.”

There are several risk factors associated with cardiometabolic risk, most frequently obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. If you have diabetes, it is important to get frequent checkups from your healthcare provider and take the necessary steps to protect yourself from these risks.

Here are the ADA’s descriptions of cardiometabolic risks:

Obesity and Fat
Being overweight or obese is a leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes. A healthy weight is measured by your body mass index (BMI). A BMI of 25 or more is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or more is obese. If your BMI is over 25, you are at higher risk. In addition to how much you weigh, where your extra fat is stored can also affect your health. Having an "apple shaped" body (extra fat around your middle) rather than "pear shaped" body (extra fat around your hips) raises risk for heart disease.

Find out your BMI.

High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes often go hand-in-hand. High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases your chances for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. At least 40% percent of people with diabetes have high blood pressure, which often leads to stroke. High blood pressure may make stroke more likely in people with diabetes.

Blood Fats
Your body stores fat for future use for energy. Some of these fats, or lipids, are stored in your blood. Some are good for the body, like HDL cholesterol, which helps protect your heart. In general the higher your HDL, and the lower your LDL, the better. Triglycerides are another kind of blood fat that raises your chances for a heart attack or stroke if your levels are too high.

Insulin Resistance
Insulin helps the cells of the body use sugar, or glucose, as fuel. Insulin resistance occurs when the cells no longer respond well to insulin. The cells don't get the fuel they need and the body keeps making more insulin in an effort to lower blood glucose levels. Insulin resistance may be a key component of cardio-metabolic risk, and may cause problems to develop.