There’s a lot to know about the link between diabetes and heart disease, and the facts may change your life. The quote in our headline is from an anonymous author, but it applies to all of us.

Mark this year’s Heart Week (May 6-12) by joining a Diabetes Australia webinar on Thursday night, May 9, from 7pm-8pm. It will give you the chance to learn about heart health from a panel of people including someone who lives with diabetes, a GP, and a credentialled diabetes educator.

In the upcoming edition of Diabetes Australia’s Circle Magazine, you can read about Nihal, an active 80-year-old man who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more than 20 years ago. He has worked hard to manage his condition with tablets, diet, and exercise.

About four years ago he fell in his garden. The paramedics who attended him were so concerned by his ECG readings that he was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency heart bypass surgery. The operation was successful, and Nihal is now back playing tennis, walking regularly and enjoying overseas travel with his wife.

While Nihal was aware of a strong family history of heart disease, he did not know that living with diabetes further increased his risk. He is now urging others who live with diabetes to find out more about diabetes, heart disease and their own individual risk.

This week’s Diabetes Australia webinar will cover topics such as:

• The link between diabetes and heart disease 
• Causes and signs of heart disease 
• Understanding your risk of heart disease 
• Practical guidance for better heart health 
• Experiences of people living with diabetes and their heart health 
• Who can help and how to access support 
• The role of nutrition, food, physical activity and self-monitoring to improve health and well being  

This is an important webinar that has the potential to change the way you live and help you prevent, rather than treat, heart disease.

Happy Heart Week!