Heart disease is more likely to occur in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Heart disease is one of the common complications that may affect diabetics as their condition progresses. Over time, high blood glucose levels damage nerves and blood vessels, leading to complications such as heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death among people with diabetes. Vascular problems, such as poor circulation to the legs and feet, are also more likely to affect diabetes patients. Retinopathy and kidney problems are symptoms of diabetes that may go unnoticed for years, including the symptoms of cardiovascular disease. The risk of coronary heart disease associated with type 2 diabetes is about 50% greater in women than it is in men. Many people think that heart disease only affects the middle-aged and elderly. However, serious cardiovascular disease may develop in diabetics before the age of 30. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetics are at greater risk of developing heart disease. Diabetes can damage blood vessels, and this can lead to an cardiovascular disease. The lining of the blood vessels may become thicker, and this in turn can impair blood flow, resulting in a greater risk of heart problems or suffering a stroke Diabetes and Heart Disease © NIH National Eye Institute © NIH National Eye Institute The same view with diabetic retinopathy (later stage) Normal vision © StoreGene, 2011