HASTINGS — Scott Becker of Grand Island learned he had diabetes a few years ago.
He also knew that his family had a history of serious heart disease. But he said not changing his lifestyle created the perfect storm that led to a heart attack two years ago.
“If I had to go back in time and start over, I would definitely make some changes when I was first diagnosed with diabetes,” Becker said in a release from Mary Lanning Healthcare.
Becker is not alone. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes and heart disease often go hand in hand. In fact, adults with diabetes are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as adults without diabetes.
Becker, who led an active lifestyle at the time she was diagnosed with diabetes, said she thought she was active enough to avoid further complications. He feels his diabetes is under control, he said.
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One thing he should have changed, he said, was to move into a less stressful career situation. As a maintenance manager, he worked 16 hours a day, sometimes seven days a week.
Second, he would have changed his eating habits. Because of his long working hours, he would sometimes eat large meals at once right before bed. This didn’t give his body time to break things down properly.
Becker said she’s been taking it a little easier these days and recently changed jobs. He also sees his doctor regularly and meets with DeAnne Carpenter, diabetes manager at Mary Lanning Healthcare. Carpenter and his MLH Diabetes Program helped him with monitoring, medication and even managing his cholesterol.
“I would tell people with diabetes to be careful about what they eat,” Becker says. “Diabetes is no fun. You may think you’re pretty healthy, but you have to watch what you eat.”
