You read that people who have diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to have a stroke than people who do not have diabetes! People with diabetes are also more likely to develop heart disease or have strokes at an earlier age than people who do not have diabetes. This is because people with diabetes, like yourself, end up with too much glucose in their blood, which leads to increased fatty deposits or clots on the insides of blood vessel walls. When clots narrow or block the blood vessels in the brain or neck, this cuts off blood supply and stops oxygen from getting to the brain, resulting in a stroke ("Diabetes and Stroke"). 

Unfortunately, being over 55 and being an African American are also risk factors for a stroke ("Diabetes and Stroke").