How ’bout diabetes, that sneaky metabolic disorder messin’ with folks all ’round the globe. It’s all about them high blood sugar levels, causin’ all kinds of trouble. And lemme tell ya, it don’t stop there! Diabetes also opens the door to a whole bunch of other chronic conditions that we don’t want no part of.
Now, one of the biggest troublemakers that comes knockin’ on diabetes’ door is cardiovascular disease. They go hand in hand like peas in a pod. This article’s here to break it all down for ya – the risks, the hows and whys, and most importantly, what we can do to protect ourselves from these double-trouble threats.
You see, when you’re livin’ with diabetes, your heart ain’t havin’ an easy time. That blood sugar rollercoaster messes with them blood vessels, leadin’ to atherosclerosis – that’s when plaque starts cloggin’ up the arteries. And you know what that means? It’s like a traffic jam in there, and your ticker ain’t likin’ it one bit. Heart attacks and strokes might just show up uninvited, and we sure don’t want that!
Diabetes ain’t playin’ fair, ’cause it likes to bring some other rascals along for the ride. High blood pressure, weird cholesterol levels, and extra pounds? Yep, they’re all buddies of diabetes, makin’ that cardiovascular danger even worse. And don’t even get me started on how diabetes messes with them nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. It’s like it’s throwin’ a party in there, and it ain’t invited!
But we gotta understand how this devilish duo works. It’s like a chain reaction, with chronic high blood sugar causin’ inflammation and stress, tearin’ up them blood vessels’ delicate linin’. And from there, it’s like a domino effect, leadin’ to plaque build-up, stiff arteries, and all that jazz.
And let’s talk ’bout insulin resistance, that’s the troublemaker in type 2 diabetes. Your body just ain’t listenin’ to insulin’s wise words, so the blood sugar keeps on risin’, and that nasty atherosclerosis keeps on growin’. Oh, it’s a real mess!
But, there’s hope! We can fight back! Lifestyle changes are our secret weapons – a healthy diet, gettin’ up and movin’, sayin’ goodbye to those nasty cigarettes, and watchin’ our waistlines. That’s how we show diabetes and heart disease that they ain’t runnin’ the show.
And don’t forget your meds and insulin if you need ’em. Keepin’ them blood sugar levels in check is a must! And make sure to visit your healthcare provider regular, get them screenings done, checkin’ your blood pressure, cholesterol, and all the rest. Early catchin’ of any trouble can save us a whole lotta headache later on.

Oh,and those statins! They’re like the hero’s of medication, helpin’ lower that cholesterol and keepin’ our tickers tickin’ smoothly. They’re in the fight with us, and we’re glad to have ’em on our side!
Statins are smart cookies. They know exactly where to find that pesky HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme that’s stirrin’ up trouble and creatin’ cholesterol in the liver. Once they spot it, they roll up their sleeves and get to work. Like master craftsmen, they slow down that enzyme’s mischief, limitin’ the production of cholesterol in the liver.
Now, a lot of that cholesterol in our blood comes from the liver. That’s where them statins set up camp and get to work. They know just how to wrangle that pesky HMG-CoA reductase – that’s the enzyme responsible for makin’ cholesterol in the liver. By blockin’ this sneaky fella’s action, statins slow down the production of cholesterol in the liver.
Statins are true multi-taskers. Once they’ve got that HMG-CoA reductase under control, they start roundin’ up that extra cholesterol that’s already been set loose in the bloodstream. They help the liver clear it out, makin’ sure our blood vessels stay clear and free flowin’.
Proper self-care and trusty medications can work hand in hand to lower our risk of heart disease and stroke.

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Crystal Shackelford, APRN
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