Congestive heart failure and diabetes

Diabetes is a risk factor for coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart failure. But diabetes itself also is a risk factor for both systolic and diastolic heart failure, and the risk of heart failure rises with poor control of blood sugar, so individuals with diabetes need to pay close attention to controlling blood sugar.

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If you have diabetes, keep the condition under control with diet, exercise, faithful monitoring of blood glucose, and other measures recommended by your doctor. The hemoglobin A1c test, often called the "diabetic report card," provides an average blood sugar level over two to three months. Your result should be less than 7 percent if you have diabetes and less than 6 percent if you do not. Your doctor may ask to check your blood sugar with a glucose monitor several times each day. Give your doctor written records of your monitor's reports.

Take your medicine at the time and in the dosage your doctor recommends. You may need to take oral medication or insulin injections for improved control. Resist the temptations of fast food, bakery windows, and dinner-party indulgences; your diabetic diet may be your best protection against heart failure. A diabetic specialist and a nutritionist can help you control your diabetes and ward off heart failure.