One disease many do not link to their heart, is diabetes.

8% of people living in the U.S. suffer from the disease, and more than 65% of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke, according to the American Diabetes Association.

By managing diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, doctors say people with diabetes can reduce their risk of suffering from both diseases.

One in three Americans, one in two minorities, and more than 4,000 people each day, are diagnosed with diabetes.

"Diabetes is a very complicated disease. It involves many organ systems in the body. It does a lot of very bad things to the body. It affects the kidneys, the eyes, it affects the arteries that go to the legs," said Dr. Joseph Kummer, Cardiologist, BryanLGH Heart Institute.

Diabetes also affects your heart.

"Most people with diabetes have complications with the heart, and that's one of the most serious complications that can develop from diabetes," said Dr. Kummer.

Diabetes is the 5th deadliest disease in the U.S.

Since 1987, the American Diabetes Association says death rates due to diabetes, have increased 45%.

Nearly 2 in 3 of those deaths, are related to heart disease.

"Diabetes does a lot of adverse things to the body, but one of which, is it changes the cholesterol build-up in the body, and then the glucose levels in the blood are higher in diabetes. These abnormalities of the cholesterol as well as the disregulation of the blood sugar, and insulin, which brings blood sugar into the cells, all creates an environment in the body, that promotes cholesterol build-up in the body and the heart," said Dr. Kummer.

Dr. Kummer says that is just one sign of a possible heart attack.

"A lot of time, people don't know they're at risk for heart disease, until something catastrophic happens, like a heart attack, and at that point, it's usually something we could have prevented beforehand," said Dr. Kummer.

Some of those preventative measures are, watching your weight and what you eat, exercising, keeping an eye on your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and avoid smoking.

By following many of these easy steps, Dr. Kummer says you will be able to lower your risk, of not only becoming diabetic, and possibly suffering from heart disease as well.

"If you do all these things appropriately, a lot of times you can help prevent diabetes in the first place," said Dr. Kummer.

Diabetes can be hereditary.

Dr. Kummer says people with a family history of the disease have a greater chance of getting it.

However, by leading a healthy lifestyle, you can help prevent diabetes, and possibly even heart disease.