Professionals at Faith and Hope Hospice and Palliative Care, a ‌‌hospice‌ ‌care‌ in Burbank‌ Ca, ‌want to clarify that diabetes and heart disease are the two most common diseases in connection with adult Americans. Although the hospice‌ also makes it understandable that these are two very separate diseases, they are often linked. It is common to see individuals at any hospice‌ ‌care‌ ‌in Los‌ ‌Angeles‌ or Burbank who have diabetes to be two to four times more likely to develop heart disease. Plus, patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of suffering from a heart attack or a stroke. 

What is Diabetes?

Before the hospice‌ ‌care‌ professionals in ‌Burbank‌ ‌Ca‌ compare the two, it is a good idea that you have a good understanding of what the two diseases are. Typically, when food is digested, most of it is broken down into glucose, which is essentially sugar. Then the pancreas gets busy producing insulin, which helps this sugar to enter the body’s cells and generate energy.

Nevertheless, this may sound easy for people first hearing this at hospice‌ ‌care‌ ‌in Burbank California, but sadly people who suffer from diabetes do not have the necessary insulin to blend the sugar with their cells. When this happens, it creates a sugar build-up in their blood. If they don’t manage their diabetes properly, it can lead to heart disease, nerve damage, kidney failure, and amputations, along with other unfavorable complications. 

Fortunately, people with diabetes can treat and prevent the above complications from ever happening. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes signifies that no insulin is produced in the body, and type 2 signifies insulin is not produced or used well. In both types, controlling blood pressure and keeping the proper foot and eye care are very important. Typically, you can manage type 1 with insulin injections, while type 2 can be treated with different medications with or without insulin. 

Nevertheless, you could take extra care of your or a loved ones’ diabetes; it can still develop into symptoms that become more difficult to control. For instance, end-stage diabetes usually means the patient has another illness, such as heart disease, and their life expectancy has been reduced to less than six months. When this happens, hospice care is recommended to give extra support to help the patient to manage their symptoms and live more comfortably for the time they have left. 

What Is Heart Disease?

Heart disease is a term used for various conditions relating to the heart. The most common form is artery disease (CAD), which reduces blood flow to the heart. This usually leads to heart failure, arrhythmia (heart palpitations), heart attack, or stroke.

To prevent and manage heart disease, medical experts suggest physical activity and healthy eating are very critical. When a patient is diagnosed, they are usually prescribed medication to help them manage symptoms and prevent the dangerous symptoms mentioned above. 

If a heart disease is not managed correctly, it may progress into heart failure. This is known as end-stage heart disease. Usually, this shows up as a cycle when the patient’s health declines, followed by a moment of recovery. Due to this, many patients don’t get hospice care even though it would help them out immensely. 

What Is The Link Between Heart Disease And Diabetes?

There is a close relationship between diabetes and the development of heart disease. For the most part, this is because of high blood glucose from diabetes, which could start to damage blood vessels and nerves that control the heart. Although, even when the patient has his or her blood glucose in check, other conditions caused by diabetes, such as high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, also play a part in the risk of heart disease development.

Diabetic symptoms such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol can also increase the risk for heart attack stroke. Plus, people with diabetes usually have poor cardiovascular health. Additionally, obesity and a lack of physical activity are high-risk factors for developing heart disease. 

That is why doctors recommend that diabetics consume a healthy diet and keep physically active to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. 

Also, it is crucial that if you or a loved one suffers from a combination of heart disease and diabetes, that medical attention is provided. Be careful when receiving medications for heart disease since these may interact negatively with medications for diabetes or have an ingredient such as sugars and carbohydrates that could affect the blood sugar level in diabetics.

When Is A Hospice Right For Diabetes Or Heart Disease?

As a rule, diabetes on its own does not meet a hospice’s eligibility criteria. The only time that diabetes can lead to hospice care is when it is present simultaneously as another illness such as heart disease. 

If that is the case, the patient must have his or her physician determine that their life expectancy is less than six months, which usually happens when diabetes has been linked with another life-threatening illness. 

When a patient has other illnesses, diabetic symptoms can become very challenging to manage. The extra support that hospice care can provide helps out the patient and their family. Hospice care offers several services that help satisfy their physical, emotional as well as spiritual requirements. 

Individuals with end-stage heart disease are most likely candidates for hospice care. Many hospices like Faith and Hope have a disease management program that accommodates the special needs of patients with end-stage heart disease. 

Due to the increased risk of heart attack and stroke, hospice care can significantly reduce emergency room visits and hospital readmissions for patients and their families. 

If you or a loved one suffers from one or more of these complicated diseases, Faith and Hope can provide the specialized and necessary support to help you, and your loved one live their best life for the time they have left. For more details about hospice services for heart disease and diabetes, contact us at (877) 797-1977.