In diabetes, even if there is no high cholesterol, the risk of having cardiovascular problems such as a heart attack or stroke is greater, because the blood vessels become more fragile and easily break. Therefore, in addition to controlling blood sugar levels, cholesterol and triglycerides must also be controlled at all times.
For this, in the diabetes diet, avoiding very fatty foods such as sausages or fried foods is as important as reducing the intake of very sweet foods, even if cholesterol levels are acceptable in the blood test.
See what the diet should look like in diabetes.
How high cholesterol harms diabetic health
High cholesterol causes an accumulation of fatty plaques on the walls of the veins, which hinders the passage of blood and impairs circulation. This, associated with a high blood sugar level, which is natural in diabetes, can lead to very serious complications, such as a heart attack or stroke, for example.
In addition, poor circulation can cause itching, especially in the legs, causing wounds that do not heal easily and can become infected due to excess blood sugar, which facilitates the development of bacteria.
Why there are more cardiovascular diseases in diabetics
Insulin resistance, which occurs naturally in diabetes, leads to an increase in triglycerides and cholesterol, so even if you don't have high cholesterol, triglycerides increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
So, some of the most common cardiovascular diseases in diabetics are:
| Disease | Which is: |
| Hypertension | Constant increase in blood pressure, above 140 x 90 mmHg. |
| Deep vein thrombosis | Clots appear in the leg veins, facilitating the accumulation of blood. |
| Dyslipidemia | Increase in "bad" cholesterol and decrease in "good" cholesterol. |
| Poor circulation | Decreased blood return to the heart, which causes tingling in the hands and feet. |
| Atherosclerosis | Formation of fatty plaques on the walls of blood vessels. |
Thus, it is very important to control both blood sugar and fat levels to reduce the chances of developing a serious cardiovascular disease. Watch this video on how to keep cholesterol levels in check:
