One of the biggest problems for people with diabetes is trouble with their heart and blood vessels.

Normally, your heart pumps blood to large blood vessels called arteries. The blood, which is carrying oxygen, travels through the arteries until they turn into small blood vessels called capillaries. In the capillaries, the oxygen leaves the blood and enters your cells. Other blood vessels, called veins, then carry blood back to the lungs and heart to receive more oxygen.

But over time, a waxy, fatty substance called plaque can build up inside the blood vessels.

When the blood vessels become narrowed and clogged, it's harder for enough blood to get to all the parts of your body.

Many people with diabetes also have both high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. This puts them at an even greater risk for problems in the heart, blood vessels, and several other important organs.

Although diabetes can hurt your heart and blood vessels, there are many ways to keep them healthy and in good shape. Taking care of them can help keep many other parts of your body healthy as well.