Medical Health Care Advices

Diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (affecting the heart and blood vessels). Therefore, your doctor may have made the following recommendations:
* Monitor cholesterol levels and treat them if they are high (it may be that your target rates are lower than for people without diabetes);
* Taking drugs against heart conditions (ACE inhibitors or antagonists, angiotensin) to protect your arteries;
* Are taking aspirin low dose every day – with your doctor determine if you should AAS;
* Monitor yourblood pressure and treat it if it is high (your target blood pressure is probably lower than for people without diabetes).

What can you do to help control your blood pressure?

Ask your doctor about your blood pressure target. Monitor your blood pressure regularly as recommended by the doctor. Many pharmacies sell blood pressure monitors that you can easily use at home. If you find that your blood pressure numbers are higher than normal, tell your doctor. There would need to adopt some changes in lifestyle (see below) or take medication (or combination of drugs) to lower your blood pressure.

Some measures that help control your blood pressure:

* Follow a diet low in fat and salt (eg. The DASH diet);
* Exercise regularly;
* Maintain a healthy weight;
* Reduce your consumption of alcohol;
* Try to give up smoking.