Seven in 10 U.S. adults worry poor health will prevent them from doing all the things they’d like to do in life, according to a new survey from the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association.

The research was conducted by OnePoll for Know Diabetes by Heart™, a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association which combats two of the most persistent U.S. health threats – type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease – and the devastating link between them.

The survey asked 2,000 U.S. adults how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their views on time with friends and family, and generally, the role health plays in experiencing a full life.

Missing out on milestones and time with loved ones is a reality for millions of people in the U.S. living with type 2 diabetes. In addition to being at a higher risk of death from COVID-19 if blood glucose is poorly controlled, people with type 2 diabetes are at double the risk of developing and dying from heart disease and stroke. For adults at age 60, having type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks, heart failure and strokes shortens life expectancy by an average of 12 years, but there is a lot people can do to lower their risk.

Read more at American Heart Association

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