Long term complications of Diabetes: Heart Disease and Stroke

All diabetics should safeguard their health because they may develop chronic complications. These complications take more time to develop and are usually permanent. Long term complications damage or impair small arteries and large blood vessels, which carry high level sugar. Chemical changes due to faulty metabolism also damages the blood vessels.

Heart or cardiovascular diseases are four times more prominent in people with diabetes. These problems include heart attack, stroke, chest pain or angina, high Blood Pressure, narrowing of arteries and poor blood circulation or peripheral vascular disease and hardening of arteries or arteriosclerosis.

Death related to heart disease is also four times higher in diabetes. Degenerative changes in the arteries of diabetics make them prone to cerebral hemorrhages and may result in paralysis or even death.

Symptoms of Heart Disease in Diabetes

• Pain in the chest region, arms and legs
• Rapid or irregular heart beats
• Excess perspiration
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness and fatigue are the symptoms of heart disease.

Silent heart attacks that do not exhibit any typical symptoms are usually associated with diabetic patients. Diabetes can damage the nerves that transmit chest pain. So a diabetic is unaware of the pain and approaching heart attack.

Treating Heart Disease and Stroke in Diabetics

• Diet should consist of lacto-vegetarian food low in calories and sodium.
• It should include natural organic food with emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds and whole grains.
• The patient should avoid refined and denatured foods, meats, alcohol, tea, coffee and tobacco.
• Salt and sugar should be taken in moderation.
• Patients with a weak heart should take apples liberally.
• Coconut water, pomegranate, fresh grapes, oranges and pineapple tone up the heart.
• For people suffering from heart attack, grape juice is a valuable remedy.
• Regular exercise is also very beneficial.
• Good care should be taken during a stroke. The person should take complete bed rest. He should make attempts to move paralyzed limbs and move all the joints several times a day. Gently massage the paralyzed limbs. Cold compresses help relieve head pain. The patient should move around as soon as possible.

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