Focus on diabetes
HAVING A HEART ATTACK BOOSTS YOUR RISK FOR DIABETES
After experiencing a heart attack, at least one in three people in a recent study developed diabetes within threeand- a-half years. One reason may be that the conditions share some risk factors. Being older is one risk factor you can’t change. But you can drop excess weight, treat hypertension, quit smoking, and take cholesterol-lowering drugs if necessary. The tastiest tip of all? Enjoy a Mediterranean diet featuring olive oil, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish.Lancet, vol. 370, no. 9588
EXERCISE: A HELPFUL FIRST STEP IN CONTROLLING DIABETES
Instructions to eat right, take diabetes medications, and exercise can seem overwhelming. All three are important, but don’t leave out exercise. A review of 103 studies found that those focusing only on regular exercise offered twice as many health benefits as those also stressing other healthy behaviors.Diabetologia, vol. 50, no. 5
