One of the five goals for the best diabetes care is taking an aspirin daily (as appropriate). Patients with diabetes that are of a certain age and/or have other chronic conditions (such as vascular disease) can benefit from taking a low dose of aspirin. Ask your doctor if you should be taking a daily aspirin.
Aspirin is thought to keep red blood cells from clumping together. When these cells clump together a clot can form, possibly causing a heart attack or stroke. When someone has diabetes, these cells can clump more easily and taking aspirin daily can reduce this risk.
High quality care for diabetes may include taking aspirin. Talk to your health care provider to see if taking aspirin is appropriate for your condition. This goal is part of the D5, five treatment goals created to make it easier for patients with diabetes and their health care team to focus on treatments that have the greatest health impact.
Talk with your doctor about how you're doing on your D5. Learn more at www.theD5.org.
