CONTROLLING THE OTHER FACTORS THAT CAN
LEAD TO HEART DISEASE

In addition to diabetes, other factors can lead to heart disease. These are: smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity, and overweight.

Controlling your blood glucose is very important, but it is not enough. Because you are more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke, you also need to control these other factors.

You can make a difference. The more risk factors you control, the lower your risk of heart disease. If you want to lower your risk of heart disease:

Don't smoke.
Control your blood pressure if it is high.
Ask your doctor if you need your blood cholesterol checked.
Be active.
Control your weight.

Your doctor may suggest other pamphlets on each of these topics. Ask for the ones that interest you.

There are resources in your community to help you control your diabetes and other risk factors for heart disease. For more information, contact the organizations below (at no charge):

Canadian Diabetes Association: 1-800-BANTING (226-8464) or
   www.diabetes.ca
Dietitians of Canada: www.dietitians.ca
Lifescan Tele-Library: 1-800-847-SCAN (7226)