Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease than those without diabetes! Years of high blood glucose (sugar) can damage the large blood vessels that surround the heart and carry blood to the arms, legs and head. This causes the heart to work harder and may lead to heart attack or stroke.
According to the American Heart Association, major risk factors for heart disease include:

• Smoking
  
• High cholesterol
  
• High blood pressure
  
• Physical inactivity
  
• Overweight or obesity
  
• Diabetes
  

• Tightness in chest or neck
  
• Blackout
  
• Chest pain or sharp leg or arm pain
  

Fats, especially animal fats and saturated fats, can increase the level of cholesterol in the blood. Both the type of fat and the amount of fat eaten can contribute to the risk of coronary heart disease. The information below will help to identify both the types and sources of fat in foods. When preparing meals, include more monounsaturated fat and less saturated fat.

Saturated Fat: Increases blood cholesterol; solid at room temperature; found in all animal products.
Sources:  Meats, cheese, egg yolk, whole milk, 2% milk, ice cream, butter, cream cheese, sour cream, palm oil, coconut oil, chocolate, hydrogenated vegetable oil, poultry with skin.

Unsaturated Fat: Can lower blood cholesterol levels; found in vegetable oils; liquid at room temperature; may be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated
Sources: Polyunsaturated oils:  Safflower, sunflower, corn, sesame seeds
Monounsaturated oils: olive, canola, peanut oils; olives, avocado, peanuts, cashews, almonds, pecans

Cholesterol: Found only in animal products; made in the human liver
Sources: Meat, cheese, egg yolk, whole milk, 2% milk, ice cream, butter, organ meats (liver)

Trans Fatty Acids: Raise blood cholesterol levels.
Sources: Stick margarines, shortening, lard, commercially fried foods, bakery products and snack foods that contain partially hydrogenated fat.