Diabetes affects the cardiovascular system, but many problems aren't apparent until a person has a heart attack or stroke.

If you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have high blood pressure. Untreated, high blood pressure can raise your risk for heart disease.

Most of us know that diabetes can lead to severe complications, such as blindness, kidney disease and amputations. But did you know that diabetes also greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Between 12 and 30 percent of people with heart failure also have diabetes. This double diagnosis makes it especially important that you manage both conditions. Here’s how.