hardening of the arteries.How typical is this for her age?She does not eat well, smokes and has Type 2 diabetes.
Sadly, she has seen my father, stepfather, several uncles and both of my grandmothers die of heart disease and/or lung cancer yet she refuses to change her lifestyle.l have tried and tried to open her eyes to the reality she faces, but...she does not seem to wanna hear it.

These are not ordinary problems for a 53 year old. Please encourage her to change her diet and exercise program. Walk 45 minutes a day--that will help the diabetes and the high blood pressure.

Unfortunately, because she is a smoker and has high blood pressure and diabetes, she is in a high risk category for heart attack and stroke.

Smoking causes what some doctors call, porcelain veins, because they turn white and hard. She should stop smoking because it will only cause it to get worse and she should definitely change her diet because she is diabetic. It is extremely common for smokers.

Your mother has 3 of the worst risk factors for heart disease (diabetes, smoking and high blood pressure). These all require aggressive management. Besides immediately stopping smoking, several medications will certainly be required. l hope she is seeing a competent doctor!

Unfortunately, it is not as atypical as one would think given the rising epidemic of diabetes. She is doing everything wrong by not quitting smoking & keeping her blood pressure under control. Just one of those combined with diabetes significantly increases her risk of cardiovascular disease. As one mentioned, both heart attack & stroke as well as peripheral arterial disease in the legs as it is all a system. Combine all three, l would say she is at an extremely high risk of an adverse cardiovascular event.
l see patients in their 30 is who have had heart attacks b/c of smoking. And scores more diabetics in the 40 is & 50 is with heart attacks. Too young & preventable. Given the information of that she is already having heart related issues. She will cut 20 years off of her life. Possibly before 60 or sooner. Much higher probability before 65

It is difficult to change a person is habits though but it can be done, but difficult. The cold hard facts of where she sees at may jar some sense into her

Buy a black dress.