I’ve heard that diabetes should take a low-dose asprin every day to help prevent strokes or heart-attacks. Can someone please give me advice on this?
Welcome @Lisa73!
There is an English proverb that goes: “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Winston Churchill clarified it by adding “especially if you aim well.” On that basis, I think an aspirin would be way too light a projectile 
Kidding aside: ADA recommends the use of low doses of aspirin for T1 and T2 diabetics in the at-risk population only, which is essentially men over 50 and women over 60 (with some other smaller categories, you should check).
However, my understanding is that, very recently (a few weeks ago), a new study came out showing no positive effect for daily baby aspirin as a preventive in the general population (excluding those with previous heart attack). That is contrary to some older established opinion. So it is possible that the ADA may change its position.
FYI, the use of aspirin as a preventive medicine is a little controversial among non-mainstream audiences. I use baby aspirin every day. But I think everyone has to make his/her own opinion. And, if more research came out showing no benefit, I may reconsider my own use.
My own doctor tells me not until I’m older would it be his automatic recommendation. Another doctor who I once consulted with told me he felt it should be considered the standard of care for all adults with diabetes. I’d ask your own doc if they think it’s justified for someone with your history…
1 Like
I’m 42 and it was one of the first things my doc told me. While it seems the benefits are difficult to pin down in studies, I figure I’ll continue to take them unless strong evidence comes out showing detrimental effects. The financial price is negligible.
1 Like
I am at risk for heart disease and have had three stents. I have used a low dose aspirin for several years. It is just part of a larger medication panel
My husband had a DVT event and has “graduated” from the blood thinner Coumadin to the daily baby aspirin therapy. The goal of the daily low dose aspirin is to thin circulating blood - ever had the high BG finger stick which produces the slow small syrupy test sample? I think that alone provides a personal indication for me that taking daily aspirin has immediate benefit. Most days I take a 500mg morning dose to control pain from hip bursitis.
The recommendation of a daily aspirin as a general preventative originated outside the world of diabetes. I had a doctor tell me, “Take a daily aspirin. Men who do have fewer heart attacks.” At the time I was in my 30s, non diabetic and with no family history of heart disease. Irrespective of whether you consider the advice right or wrong, it transcends the world of diabetes by a good long way.
I’m a LADA, age 75, family history of strokes (though not at an early age), have hypertension but no specific indications of heart disease. My cardiologist told me a couple of years ago to take a baby aspirin a day. I’ve since dropped that (mostly) after starting krill oil capsules.
I found that I often bruised too much when taking both. But that varies a bit with my diet, too. Frankly, I now use the extent of my bruising from insulin injections as a clue of when to back off of krill oil and/or aspirin or to increase (or temporarily start back on) them. There were times when I was taking both that it was obvious that my blood was too thin when I’d accidentally cut myself or have a nose bleed and the bleeding just didn’t seem to want to stop.
1 Like