Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease (also known as cardiovascular disease) by two to four times if poorly controlled. Reduce your risk of heart disease and manage your blood sugar by following these three tips from the Lake Health Diabetes Education Center:

Managing diabetes is a 24/7 responsibility. During emergencies, people with diabetes face particular challenges to their health so preparedness is key. For this reason, Lake Health recommends creating an emergency kit so you're equipped with the items you need if you have to head out at a moment’s notice. 

More than 30 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and 7 million of them don’t know it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes is serious business. It can lead to heart disease; stroke; kidney failure; vision loss; amputation of toes, feet or legs; and premature death. The good news is that you can often manage diabetes with physical activity, diet, insulin and other medications. Marjorie Lang, diabetes education services manager at Lake Health, knows how important it is to see if you're at risk.