Beyond Blood Sugar: Understanding the Cardiovascular Risk of Diabetes

Everyday Solutions for Managing Diabetes and Heart Health

We’re constantly hit with news and social media posts about the “best” diets, supplements, or workout routines to stay healthy. Yet, over half of Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes¹. Living with diabetes often means dealing with tough symptoms like weight management issues, nerve pain, kidney problems, and the need for medications or injections. The Diabetes Heart Connection is one key area that is often overlooked. Studies show that people with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease compared to those without it, and on average, their life expectancy is 7-8 years shorter².

This connection isn’t too surprising since diabetes and heart disease share many of the same root causes. Inflammation, insulin resistance, nutrient imbalances, and oxidative stress³⁴ lead to metabolic syndrome and heart disease. Conventional approaches focus on symptoms, but functional medicine takes it a step further by aiming to address these root causes. Functional medicine uses a personalized approach. Combining lifestyle changes, targeted nutrition, a review of underlying issues, and specific supplements a treatment plan is developed that’s uniquely designed for each person.

Shared Risk Factors

• • Nutritional Imbalances: Busy lifestyles often mean turning to processed, high-sugar foods that lead to inflammation and poor gut health. Diets lacking fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats (like in fish and olives) miss out on key anti-inflammatory nutrients and fiber. Even inadequate sun exposure can lower our vitamin D levels, throwing our nutritional balance off.

• • Oxidative Stress: We’re exposed to toxins daily, from air pollution to unexpected sources like ground cinnamon, which can contain lead. These exposures, combined with the body’s natural processes, create reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidants (like vitamins C and E) can keep ROS in check, but without enough antioxidants, oxidative stress builds up, damaging cells. While we can control some sources (like smoking and alcohol), many exposures are hard to avoid⁸⁹.

• • Sedentary Lifestyle: Many of us sit for most of the day due to work, long commutes, or busy schedules, which contributes to weight gain, insulin resistance, and increased risks for diabetes and heart disease. Adding movement to your day, even small activities, can make a big difference in overall health.

Taking a comprehensive approach to these factors can make a big impact on managing and preventing diabetes and heart disease. Functional medicine offers a path to better health by focusing on the underlying causes.

Functional Strategies for Managing Diabetes and Heart Health

In functional medicine, focusing on key areas—like nutrition, sleep, stress management, and physical activity—builds a foundation for preventing and managing diabetes and heart disease by looking at the body as a whole.

Nutrition and Lifestyle: The First Line of Defense

• • Sleep: Quality sleep is a must, as poor sleep raises stress hormones and ghrelin (the hunger hormone), which messes with glucose metabolism and increases the risk of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Try for 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night to support blood sugar balance and overall health.

• • Stress Management: Chronic stress releases chemicals that disrupt sleep, raise blood pressure, and weaken the immune system. Find ways to relieve stress that work for you, like spending time outdoors, enjoying hobbies, practicing mindfulness, or saying “no” when needed. Reducing stress can have a huge impact on health.

• • Physical Activity: Regular movement lowers inflammation, supports cell health, and helps regulate blood sugar. You don’t need a gym or marathon goals—small changes count! Take a walk, stand up periodically, or use resistance bands while watching TV. Just keep moving.

Supplements

Adding the right supplements can give you targeted support to enhance your lifestyle changes and address your unique needs. This could include essential vitamins and minerals, herbal remedies, or specific blends to target root causes. Supplement recommendations are personalized to optimize your health plan.

Labs and Monitoring

Keeping track of how your body’s doing is key to staying on track. Basic labs from a regular doctor can check things like immune, kidney, and liver health. A functional medicine provider might look even closer, with tests for gut health, hormone balance, and other areas specific to your health history and goals.