This post was sponsored as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. Diabetes Can Break Your Heart, But It Doesn't Have To! Read more here about the relationship between type 2 diabetes and heart failure.

As a critical care nurse for over 20 years, I have witnessed the impact type 2 diabetes can have on people's health and well-being.  Personally, I have also seen the devastating effects it has had on family members that have suffered from the disease. There are several steps that can be taken to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. A few of these include: maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI), reducing stress, eating a well balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. This is one of the many reasons I am passionate about living a healthy lifestyle.

Diabetes Can Break Your Heart, But It Doesn't Have To!

Type 2 diabetes can have an enormous impact on health, including putting individuals at risk for other life threatening diseases. In fact, last week I came across an article about the connection between type 2 diabetes and heart failure. I was shocked to read the statistics. I had no idea that up to 50% of people with type 2 diabetes may develop heart failure. It is the earliest and most common cardiac complication for people living with type 2 diabetes.

What is Heart Failure?

Heart failure is when the heart does not pump efficiently enough to circulate oxygen-rich blood throughout the body to meet it's needs. It occurs more commonly in individuals with type 2 diabetes because thickening of the heart wall and structural changes can occur, which weakens the heart's ability to pump. There is no cure for it, prevention is key. So, understanding that there is a significant risk for those with type 2 diabetes to develop heart failure is essential for individuals with diabetes and the health care providers treating them. This is where the Diabetes Can Break Your Heart movement comes in to play!

What is the Diabetes Can Break Your Heart Movement?

On November 14th, World Diabetes Day, AstraZeneca was instrumental in launching The Diabetes Can Break Your Heart movement. This initiative is to raise awareness about the relationship between type 2 diabetes and heart failure with a primary goal to change the trajectory of it. In 2020, it will travel across America to help educate people and get communities involved in the call to understand the link between type 2 diabetes and heart failure. One of the key educational components of the movement is the Diabetes Heartbreaker immersive reality experience. It uses cutting-edge technology to bring to life the symptoms of heart failure. Some of these symptoms include: shortness of breath, irregular heart beat, swelling in legs, and persistent cough.

Check out this short video about the movement!

So Tell Me...

Do you have a personal connection to type 2 diabetes? Were you aware of the connection between type 2 diabetes and heart failure? Do you have any questions about your risk or a family member's risk for heart failure?  Please talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have about it. To learn more about the Diabetes Can Break Your Heart movement, visit www.diabetesheartbreak.com

Thank you so much for stopping by. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Have a great week!

#DiabetesHeartbreak #IC  #sponsored

References

1. American Diabetes Association. 10. Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2019. Diabetes Care. 2019;42(suppl 1):S103-S112.
2. National Institutes of Health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart Failure. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/heart-failure. Last accessed September 16, 2019.