Risk Assessment
Do you have diabetes?
Protect your heart… Do your part!
Are you at high risk of heart attack and stroke? Find out here…
- I am a man 45 years old or older or a woman 50 years old or older
- I am over 30 years old and have had diabetes for more than 15 years
- I have problems with circulation:
- I have had a heart attack, surgery or angioplasty for blocked heart blood vessels
- I have chest pain with exercise
- I have leg pain when walking
- I have had surgery for blocked blood vessels in my legs
- I have had a stroke, TIA or “mini-stroke”
- My eye doctor tells me that diabetes has affected the back of my eyes (retinopathy)
- My doctor found some protein in my urine (nephropathy)
- I have pain or numbness of my feet due to diabetes (neuropathy)
- I smoke cigarettes
- I have high blood pressure
- I have high cholesterol
- I have a family history of heart attacks or strokes in a relative under age 55 years
If any of these statements are true for you, your risk of heart attack or stroke or other problems related to hardening of the arteries is more than 15 to 20% over the next 10 years, and you should take steps to reduce the risk.
Ask your doctor about the following to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke:
- Sugar control (A1c < 7%)
- Blood pressure control (BP < 130/80 mmHg)
- Cholesterol control (LDL < 2.0 mmol/L, TC/HDL ratio < 4.0)
- ACE-inhibitor medication
- Quit smoking
- Regular physical activity
- Maintaining healthy diet and body weight
- Aspirin (if you have had a heart attack or stroke)