### How Type 2 Diabetes Increases Heart Disease Risk and How to Protect Yourself Many people know that type 2 diabetes and heart disease are closely linked. If you have diabetes, it's crucial to understand this connection. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than those without diabetes. However, there are ways to lower your risk. When multiple risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease occur in the same person, it's called metabolic syndrome. This includes having three or more of the following conditions: - High blood sugar - High blood pressure - High levels of triglycerides - Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol - Excess abdominal fat People with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance, which prevents their body from using sugar properly, leading to high blood sugar. Insulin resistance and high blood sugar can affect your heart, blood vessels, and fat levels in several ways, increasing your risk for heart disease. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage your body, including your heart and blood vessels. For example, high blood sugar can narrow your blood vessels, making your blood pressure higher and causing your body to retain salt, which also raises blood pressure. This creates more work for your heart. Additionally, high blood sugar can lead to high levels of triglycerides and low levels of HDL cholesterol. When HDL is busy clearing out excess triglycerides, there's less HDL available to clear out cholesterol from your blood vessels. This causes your arteries to narrow and harden, making your heart work harder to pump blood through your body. To reduce your risk for heart disease, it's important to: - Eat a healthy diet - Stay active - Manage stress - Get enough sleep - Take your recommended medications In some cases, your doctor may recommend other treatments or lifestyle changes to help manage type 2 diabetes and reduce your risk for heart issues. Your healthcare providers can help you learn how to make these lifestyle changes and get the treatment you need to protect your heart health.