Preliminary findings have uncovered that diabetic women are at significantly higher risk of serious heart problems than men. Lead author of the study, Dr. Xue Dong and colleagues, of the Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, China, presented their preliminary findings at the 51st European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting 2015, held in Stockholm, Sweden last week.
The first study by Dr. Dong and colleagues involved 19 previous studies conducted between 1966 and 2014 from a sample size of 11 million people across the globe. They found that approximately 38 percent of women with diabetes are at increased risk for heart attacks and angina.
The second study, conducted by Dr. Giuseppe Seghieri of the Regional Health Agency in Florence, Italy, was also presented at the 51st European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting 2015. Dr. Seghieri and colleagues found diabetic women to have a 34 percent higher risk of heart attack than men. Their study involved more than three million people from the Tuscany region of Italy, in which 47 percent of the sample size were men.
Both preliminary studies found no defined age group for women at higher risk of heart attack, and the data did not specify whether type 1 or type 2 diabetes played a role in the increased risk. Although, the research did note that most cases were associated with type 2 diabetes.
The two recent studies offer alarming data for diabetic women, especially women in America, since over 29 million Americans have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report. Even more alarming are the increasing numbers of prediabetics in America, one in three adults are considered prediabetic and 90 percent of them don’t even know it, according to the CDC.Â
There are 13.4 million women with diabetes in America, compared to 15.5 million men. According to the new studies, approximately 35 percent of those 13.4 million women are at further risk of heart attack. That is roughly 4.6 million women who may suffer a fatal heart attack.
Are you diabetic? Are you prediabetic? Ladies, these are the questions that need to be addressed before it is too late! In most cases, diabetes can be prevented through exercise and eating a healthy, nutritious diet. Since 90 percent of Americans who are prediabetic don’t even know it, there needs to be a change that comes from within each and every one of us.
It is bad enough that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, don’t let diabetes and heart disease take more mothers, sisters, wives and friends.
There is plenty of great food available to help keep metabolism function optimal, and make obesity a mere fleeting thought. The American Diabetes Association recommends adding more vegetables and fruit to your shopping list, staying clear of canned goods, and purchasing leaner meats. They also recommend 30 minutes of exercise per day. Here are a few healthy guidelines to follow:Â
- Quit smoking!
- Drink in moderation.
- Lower your cholesterol.
- Exercise 30 minutes a day, at moderate intensity, five days a week.
- Eat more vegetables (especially leafy greens) and fruit.
- Use more monounsaturated fats, especially when cooking. Avocado oil is amazing.
- Check to see if you are prediabetic!
 Are you eating to prevent diabetes? Ladies, take action, stay fit, and live a healthier, happier life!
—Stephen Seifert
Stephen Seifert is a writer, professor, adventurer and a health & fitness guru. His flare for travel and outdoor adventure allows him to enjoy culture and traditions different than his own. A healthy diet, routine fitness and constant mental development is the cornerstone to Stephen’s life.Â
Sources:
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_154609.html
http://www.profilinstitute.com/51th-european-association-for-the-study-of-diabetes-annual-meeting-2015/
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics/2014statisticsreport.html
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/prediabetes.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/statsreport14/national-diabetes-report-web.pdf
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics
http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/lower-your-risk/healthy-eating.html
http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/lower-your-risk/cholesterol.html
