Overview

Stay on track to good health
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death for Australians with diabetes.
They are more than twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than people who don’t have the disease. Yet many people with diabetes don’t make the connection between diabetes and these two life-threatening conditions. A recent survey by Diabetes Australia showed that 61% of people with diabetes did not think they were at increased risk of developing heart disease. 69% did not think they faced an increased risk of stroke. 11% of those polled in the telephone survey could not name any complication of diabetes.

Make the Connection-Be Well Know Your BGL, is an initiative of Diabetes Australia aimed at increasing awareness of the link between diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. People with diabetes are likely to have other health problems such as elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure, which increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Cardiovascular disease accounts for more than 65% of deaths in people with diabetes. Because managing diabetes is not just good glucose control, the campaign advises people to improve their knowledge and management of the key areas of diabetes and cardiovascular care. This will help people with diabetes to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Ideal targets are –
• HbA1c level -7% or lower,
• total cholesterol -less than 4 mmol/L,
• triglycerides -less than 2mmol/L and
• blood pressure - less than 130/80.
The Be Well Know Your BGL-make the connection campaign encourages people to discuss with their doctor and the diabetes care team ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.

Check out your risk factors for Type 2 diabetes: Just take the online self-test 'scratchie' and stay on track to good health. You can also e-mail it to a friend.

If you have diabetes, good management can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Take the management knowledge test. You can e-mail it to a friend.

What are your key management goals? Diabetes Australia, The Diabetes Society and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association recommend that people with diabetes work closely with their health care team. Most diabetes related complications can be prevented. Follow the ‘action plan’ and stay well with diabetes.

Other vital management areas are healthy eating, physical activity, smoking and alcohol.