Diabetes is now seen and being treated as a cardiovascular disease. More than 65 percent of people with diabetes will die from heart disease or a stroke. This happens because high blood glucose levels damage blood vessels. Take heart disease to heart and take these actions to help prevent it.

• Keep your blood glucose levels as close to your target range as possible. Keep your A1C below 7 percent. Have your A1C level checked at least two times each year to make sure you are staying on track.
  
• Monitor your blood pressure. The target range is less than 130/80 mmHg. Blood pressure should be checked during every visit to a health care professional.
  
• Stop smoking. Smokers have two to four times the risk of nonsmokers of developing heart disease. For people who have diabetes and smoke, that's a double whammy!
  
• If you are overweight, lose weight. There are so many programs to help with weight loss now. You have to be ready and willing to do it. Ask your doctor or a registered dietitian about local weight loss programs.
  
• Be physically active. The goal for physical activity is 30 minutes on most days of the week. You can do this, but again you have to want to do it.
  
• Monitor and know the targets for your blood fats. Total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL; LDL (bad cholesterol) should be less than 100 mg/dL; HDL (good cholesterol) should be greater than 40 mg/dL for men and greater than 50 mg/dL for women; triglycerides should be less than 150 mg/dL. If you don't know your numbers, ask your doctor.
  
• Take all of your medications as directed. You are taking them for a reason and some of them may be helping you prevent heart disease by controlling cholesterol levels or blood pressure or both. If you can't stick with the regimen, tell your doctor.
  
• Take a low-dose aspirin daily. Aspirin has been shown to reduce your risk for a stroke or heart attack. Ask your doctor prior to starting, however, since this isn't for everyone.
  
• Watch the alcohol. Too much alcohol can actually increase blood pressure or triglycerides or both, which will increase your risk for heart disease.
  
• Seek stress-management techniques. There is a relationship between heart disease and stress. Less stress is healthier. 
  
• Eat a healthy diet. Think of all the food groups, especially the often-ignored fruits and vegetables. Choose lower fat and calorie items when possible.

So this was a long list of actions to lower your risk for heart disease. One final bit of advice: Pick just two of these to work on over the next few months, and then tackle others as you get into a groove. Be proactive and lower your risk and prolong your life with diabetes!