Diabetes puts people at risk for heart attack and stroke and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in diabetics. As deaths from heart diseases decline, men with diabetes are also suffering fewer fatal cardiovascular events. But death rates among women with diabetes -- at least up until the year 2000 -- appear to be holding steady. Recent studies don't pinpoint a clear reason, but Dr. Nanette Wegner, a cardiologist, believes the reason may be that women's heart issues are not treated as aggressively as men's.

The good news is that greater priority has been placed on women's heart health over the last few years and awareness of women's unique heart issues is improving. There's evidence to suggest that since the study ended in 2000, deaths among women from heart disease has dropped and diabetes management has improved. If you have diabetes, speak to your doctor and make sure you are aggressively managing your disease to protect your heart and your future health.