Diabetes is a primary risk factor for heart disease because diabetics could have other conditions that increase the risk further. This is due to diabetics having extra weight around the waist rather than the hips. The presence of fats around the waist is an indicator of LDL or bad cholesterol that is deposited in the blood vessels and could cause blockages. In addition the higher level of triglycerides, another type of blood fat raises the risk further.
In addition high blood pressure caused by cholesterol and other causes typical to diabetics makes the heart pump harder and strain the heart, damage blood vessels, and increases the risks for kidney, heart, eye problems and stroke. Diabetes that increases the risk of heart disease with narrowed blood vessels is aggravated with smoking. Smoking is also instrumental in increasing the risk for amputation