JOPLIN, Mo. — Today is the last day of American Heart Month. It’s an opportunity to remind patients to take care of their heart health.

This may also include cross-over diagnoses with diabetes.

“We have some of the highest rates of both heart disease and diabetes in Missouri,” says Susan Pittman of Freeman Diabetes Care & Ed.

And if a patient is diagnosed with one disease, they are at greater risk for the other disease.

“So we see a high correlation between these two diseases. So when you look for heart disease, you need to look for diabetes. If you have diabetes, you need to look for heart disease. there is.”

For example, diabetes symptoms can be bad news for your arteries.

“When you have sugar in your blood, it contains more sugar than normal and becomes more viscous. This means your arteries become narrower and it becomes easier for plaque to adhere to them.”

This means it’s important to make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of both conditions.

“Eating healthier fats, monounsaturated fats, is going to be better in the long run than eating lots of saturated fats. So everything in moderation. But what we’re saying is: , all I’m saying is, if there are guidelines for one or the other, let’s follow both guidelines.”

Also, prioritize exercise and stick to a regular eating plan.

“I think it’s a pattern of eating. Sometimes people make bad choices by skipping meals or overly restricting their diet. It’s better to eat three meals a day than be hungry and not eat. It’s better to do that. Then you will make the wrong choice.”

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