February is Heart Month, an opportunity to bring attention and awareness to the prevalence and severity of heart disease in the United States. A close link exists between diabetes and cardiovascular (CVD), which is the most prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality for people with diabetes. The relative risk of CVD morbidity and mortality in adults with diabetes ranges from 1 to 3 in men and 2 to 5 in women compared to this without diabetes.
A distinction should be made regarding CVD risk and type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Considerable data are available from population studies and randomized trial regarding the incremental CVD risk associated with DM, the vast majority of these data are derived from cohorts of T2D patients exclusively or more commonly from analysis of all DM without distinction to type. While gaps in knowledge exist, CVD prevalence rates in T1D vary substantially based on duration of DM, age, and gender. Some studies have shown that on average CV events occur 10 to 15 years earlier than in matched non-diabetic control subjects.
Regardless of the type of diabetes, the primary goal of prevention and management should be to address CV risk factors such as glycemic control, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. In light of the intimate relationship between these two disease states, Diabetes Care and Education Specialist need to be well versed in this area.
It takes an understanding of nutrition, exercise, lifestyle modification, therapeutic interventions in the management of blood pressure, lipids, and glycemic control to improve CV outcomes across the patient population. With that in mind how will you improve your knowledge and skills in this practice area. Consider attending the 2020 Massachusetts ADCES statewide meeting entitled "Looking into the Heart of Diabetes." This year's meeting will be held on May 1-2nd at the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center will explore the central issues in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease in people with or at risk of diabetes. For more information or to register visit this link.