Recent studies have shown that diabetes doubles the risk of dying from a heart attack and stroke. In fact, a study in the June 26, 2010 issue of The Lancet determined that diabetes plays a role in one of every 10 deaths from cardiovascular disease, or about 325,000 deaths a year. Diabetes also increases the risk of atrial fibrillation about 40 percent in people who take oral medications to control their blood sugar levels. The worse the diabetes, and the longer these anti-diabetes drugs are taken, the greater the risk (Journal of General Internal Medicine, April 20, 2010).
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