According to the CDC, individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease compared to those without the condition. In fact, over two-thirds (68%) of people aged 65 or older with diabetes die from heart-related issues, and 16% succumb to stroke. Further, hypertension, or high blood pressure, is twice as likelyto affect a person with diabetes - and when left untreated can lead to heart disease and stroke. When diabetes and high blood pressure occur together, the risk of heart disease increases fourfold compared to individuals without either condition.

These statistics indicate a strong connection between heart health and metabolic health - a connection that may be directly related to insulin resistance and high blood sugar. Let’s take a deeper look.

How Heart Health Impacts Metabolic Health

As cited above, studies show that cardiovascular and metabolic health are strongly intertwined.  Key factors that link the two include:*

• High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure strains blood vessels, reducing their ability to deliver nutrients like insulin to tissues, which impairs insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation. Reduced blood flow to key metabolic tissues, such as muscles and the liver, may disrupt insulin signaling, leading to chronic high blood sugar and insulin resistance over time.
  
  
• High Cholesterol: Elevated LDL cholesterol contributes to atherosclerosis (the hardening and narrowing of the arteries) by causing inflammation and damaging blood vessels, impairing insulin signaling and leading to insulin resistance. This resistance may hinder the body's ability to use glucose efficiently, raising blood sugar levels and promoting fat storage, particularly visceral fat, which worsens metabolic conditions and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.
  
  
• Visceral Fat Accumulation: Visceral fat, which accumulates around the abdomen and internal organs, is a major contributor to both heart disease and metabolic conditions. It promotes insulin resistance, impairing the body’s ability to regulate glucose, and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, visceral fat may drive inflammation and hormone imbalances, further straining metabolic processes - which can elevate cholesterol levels and blood pressure, compounding the risk of cardiovascular disease and worsening overall metabolic health.

Supporting Heart Health for Better Metabolic Outcomes

Supporting heart health through diet, exercise and targeted interventions like our comprehensive Metabolic Health Program helps address key cardiometabolic markers. Specifically, our programs center around a specially formulated low-glycemic  5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD), uniquely designed to balance glucose levels. When used as part of our comprehensive program over six months, the FMD has been shown to:

• Promote fat-focused weight loss, without the loss of muscle mass.
  FMD promotes fat loss while preserving lean muscle mass. Muscle tissue is highly metabolically active, and maintaining muscle mass can help support better glucose utilization.
  
  
• Support blood sugar balance
  
  
• Improve cardiometabolic markers such as LDL cholesterol and blood pressure
  
  
• Improve insulin sensitivity

By addressing underlying metabolic issues, our specialized programs combine cutting-edge nutritional science with personalized guidance to target key factors such as reducing visceral fat, improving insulin sensitivity, and lowering cholesterol and blood pressure - aiming to not only support long-term heart and metabolic health but also reduce reliance on medications without requiring drastic lifestyle changes. 

Schedule a free call with one of our experts today to find out how our programs can personally support your journey.

Additional Educational Resources

For further reading on the connection between heart and metabolic health, explore these resources:

• American Heart Association - Metabolic Syndrome Overview
• Research Study on Heart Health & Metabolic Syndrome