Heart Disease and Diabetes Treatment
The goal of treatment is to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Your doctor will recommend changes in lifestyle or medications to help reduce blood pressure, LDL cholesterol and blood sugar.
The recommendations include:
* Lose weight. The initial goal is to lose between 7 and 10% of current weight. This usually means you need to eat 500 to 1,000 calories less per day.
* Do 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise such as walking, 5 to 7 days per week.
* Lowering cholesterol through weight loss, exercise and lower cholesterol levels, if necessary.
* Lower blood pressure using the loss of weight, exercise and medication, if necessary.
Some people may need daily aspirin in low doses.
People with metabolic syndrome have a higher long term risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Possible complications
* Atherosclerosis
* Diabetes
* Heart attack
* Kidney disease
* Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
* Peripheral arterial disease
* Stroke
Prevention and management of the condition implies:
* Eat a diet low in fat, with a variety of fruits, vegetables and grain products
* Exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days
* Lose weight for body mass index (BMI) is below 25
* Control blood pressure and blood sugar
* No smoking
* Trying to include fish, preferably oily fish in the diet at least twice a week