Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has many causes in people with and without diabetes. Risk factors include a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, obesity, inactivity, age, and the presence of albuminuria. Many of the risk factors can be controlled through lifestyle changes and medications.
While age is a risk factor for heart disease, the duration of type 1 diabetes is also a critical factor in assessing risk. A 30-year-old who has had type 1 diabetes for >20 years is likely to be at risk of CVD, while a recently diagnosed person of the same age would be at substantially less risk.