​Diabetes and Its Relationship to Stroke:
 Diabetic patients are 1.5 times more likely to have a stroke than people without diabetes. However, understanding risk factors, implementing healthy lifestyle changes, and maintaining blood glucose level control will reduce their risk. A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted then brain tissue is damaged. Most strokes are caused by a blood clot blocking blood vessels in the brain or neck.

Typical Warning Signs of a Stroke:

• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding.
• Speech Problem (Trouble Talking).
• Dizziness, loss of balance, or difficulty walking.
• Vision problem with one or both eyes.
• Double Vision.
• Severe Headache.

When warning signs of a stroke are observed, they should be addressed directly to the emergency, as getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent permanent brain damage.

Risk factors that increase the likelihood of a diabetic patient having a stroke:

• Aging from 55 years and over.
• Having a medical history or previous family history of stroke.
• Developing Heart Disease.
• Hypertensive (High Blood Pressure).
• Obesity.
• High LDL ("bad") cholesterol and low in the proportion of ("good") cholesterol.
• Physical Inactivity.
• Smoking.

Some risk factors cannot be changed but the chances of having a stroke can be reduced by paying attention to diabetes and treating some other risk factors (e.g., weight loss).