Low-Dose Aspirin Therapy

In November 1997, the ADA concluded that low-dose aspirin therapy should be prescribed, not only for patients with diabetes who have had heart attacks, but also for patients with diabetes who are at a high risk for future heart and artery disease.

This includes both men and women. People with diabetes may be at a greater risk because their platelets (parts of cells circulating in the blood that clump and prevent bleeding) may clump more spontaneously than in people who do not have diabetes. Aspirin prevents this clumping and, therefore, may prevent heart attacks.

Taking aspirin, however, is not without risk. It can cause stomach and intestinal bleeding, so people with bleeding ulcers shouldn't take aspirin. However, the risk is greatly reduced if you take enteric-coated aspirin of 81-325 milligrams a day.

In fact, the lower dose {81 milligrams) of enteric-coated aspirin has been shown to be just as effective as higher doses in preventing platelets from clumping. You should discuss the use of aspirin with your physician to make sure that it's safe for you.