Heart Disease & Diabetes
Managing diabetic heart care together
Heart Health Meets Diabetes Management
Living with diabetes and heart disease can be challenging, but our dedicated team of experts at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is here to help. The Diabetic Heart Disease Program in the Outpatient Cardiovascular Clinic is a joint initiative of BIDMC and Joslin Diabetes Center, and offers a full range of cardiac evaluation, testing and treatment services. Here’s what you can expect from your journey with us.
Cardiovascular Care for Patients with Diabetes
When you have diabetes, it's important to understand how it affects your heart. Diabetes can lead to problems like coronary artery disease, heart failure and other cardiovascular issues. BIDMC and Joslin have created an advanced diabetes and cardiovascular disease program and an algorithm for early diagnosis and prevention of heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular complications of diabetes.
More About Heart Disease & Diabetes
During your first visit to our clinic, you will meet with our specialists. We will assess your cardiovascular health and diabetes management. We will talk about your medical history, current medications and any conditions you have, such as type 2 diabetes, diabetic heart failure symptoms or changes in heart rate.
You will have a dedicated team of specialists working together to provide the best care for you. Your team may include:
- Cardiologists: Doctors who specialize in heart health.
- Endocrinologists: Doctors who specialize in diabetes care.
- Diabetes Educators: Experts who help you understand and manage your diabetes.
- Dietitians: Nutrition experts who can help you with a heart-healthy diabetic diet.
- Pharmacists: Specialists who ensure you are taking the right medications safely.
After your initial visit, we will create a personalized care plan for you. This plan will include:
- Diabetes Management: We will help you manage your diabetes with the right diabetes medications, diet and lifestyle changes.
- Cardiovascular Health: Our team will focus on keeping your heart healthy, monitoring your heart rate and treating any cardiovascular disease or congestive heart failure.
We believe in continuous care and support. Regular check-ups and monitoring will help us track your progress and adjust your care plan as needed. This can include:
- Diabetes Care: We can provide ongoing support from our diabetes management team, including the Joslin Diabetes Center for specialized care.
- Nutritional Guidance: Help with maintaining a cardiac diabetic diet. Learn more about our nutrition services.
- Regular Heart Check-ups: These help us monitor your cardiovascular health and manage conditions like coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Learn more about our heart and vascular services.
If you need more advanced care, we offer a range of treatments:
- Cardiac Surgery: This includes coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery to improve blood flow to your heart. Learn more about our Cardiac Surgery services.
- Heart Failure Program: Support for managing heart failure related to diabetes.
- Stroke Care: Specialized care if you experience a stroke.
- Vascular Care: Treatment for blood vessel problems. Learn more about our Vascular Care services.
