February was American heart month. According to the American Heart Association, 68% of people 65 years and older die from some form of heart disease. Adults with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes The American Heart Association considers diabetes to be one of the seven major controllable risk factors for CVD.
What do we know
- In 2020 the ADA pharmacological approaches to glycemic control guidelines changed and were revised in 2021. After lifestyle modifications and metformin, two things need to be considered: 1. indicators of high-risk or established ASCVD, CKD or HF; 2. consider independently of baseline A1C, individualized A1C target or metformin use. Follow revised guidelines for medication decisions.
- The abridged standards of care 2021 state ASCVD, HF, CV risk factors should be assessed at least annually in all patients with diabetes
- American College of cardiology/AHA ASCVD risk calculator is a useful tool to estimate 10-year ASCVD risk.
There are so many things to review when meeting with a person with diabetes. How are you teaching your patients about diabetes and CVD? Do you think your patient understands this risk? If so, what level of comprehension do they have of this risk? What do you think resonates with them? The ADCES7 were designed to partner with people with diabetes, prediabetes and cardiometabolic conditions to support informed decision making.
What 1 piece of CV information can you share with your patient to foster behavior changes to improve your patients overall health? This may be when we can share that the American Heart Association considers diabetes to be one of the seven major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and discuss what SMART goal the patient can set to decrease their risk.