Diabetes has grown to epidemic proportions and so have the cardiovascular complications of diabetes. According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 29 million Americans have diabetes. However, what makes this “America’s largest healthcare epidemic” is that 86 million Americans are in a pre-diabetic condition, where their blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

This means that over 115 million Americans are either in a pre-diabetic or diabetic condition. This is creating an enormous health challenge. Even just being pre-diabetic raises a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke. High blood sugar causes oxidative stress or damage to your endothelium resulting in the following cardiovascular complications of diabetes:

• Poor Circulation Leading to Lower-Limb Numbness and Amputations
• Poor Kidney Function
• Cardiovascular Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Increased Potential for Strokes and Heart Attacks

Two Most Devastating Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes!

While the cardiovascular complications of diabetes are staggering, there are two that pose the greatest risk to a person’s health and longevity. Statistics can change over time but these two have been pretty consistent. They are:

• 66% of Diabetics Have High Blood Pressure!
• 66% of Diabetics Die From a Heart Attack or Stroke!

Two-thirds of all diabetics are confronted with this daily reality. It’s why Dr. J. Joseph Prendergast, a noted clinical expert in this area, made the following statement:

“Many people still think diabetes is a disease about sugar. It’s not the sugar! It’s the complications!”

Dr. Prendergast is not discounting the need to control your blood sugar. That’s critically important. What he’s trying to get people and the medical profession to understand is that unregulated glucose (blood sugar) causes high levels of oxidative stress, which directly damages the endothelium and its ability to properly produce nitric oxide – the master signaling molecule of your entire cardiovascular system.

To prevent the cardiovascular complications of diabetes you must repair this damage, and any future damage, to the endothelium.

How to Address Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes!

To address the cardiovascular complications of diabetes you must put in place a program to repair and properly nourish your endothelium. This program is in addition to learning how to control your blood sugar levels. Both are equally important. Unfortunately little is done in the area of endothelial cell health and function.