You and Your Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you have a lot to think about. You also have power over how you feel, and what you do, to keep your body as healthy as possible. Managing diabetes is hard work, but your efforts every day will make a big difference in how you feel, and for staying healthy. Diabetes affects your whole body. This guide will help you understand how to manage your diabetes and reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke. It will also help your kidneys, eyes, ears, and nerves stay healthy.
Knowledge is power
- You may find some sections of this guide to be more helpful at different times.
- Look through any section as many times as you would like.
- You can print checklists and logs to help you track your activity, medicines, and glucose, which is also called blood sugar.
- Use the check points to help you see what you have learned.
Your Risks for Heart Attack or Stroke
Because diabetes can affect your heart, brain, kidneys, and blood vessels, you are at a higher risk for having a heart attack or stroke than someone that doesn’t have diabetes.
If you smoke, have high blood pressure, or have high cholesterol, your risk for a heart attack or stroke is even higher.
Check off your risk factors
Take this quiz to learn if you are at risk for heart attack or stroke.