Living a healthy lifestyle is a team effort between you and your doctor. February is American Heart Month, so it&rsquo;s important to learn how to take care of your heart and work with your doctor.
Talk to your doctor
It&rsquo;s essential to check in regularly with your doctor or provider to talk about heart health. Be sure to get your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol checked at your next appointment or annual exam. It&rsquo;s a simple way to show your heart some love.
 
Live a heart-healthy lifestyle
Did you know that living with Type 2 diabetes is one of the seven major risk factors for heart disease that you can control? Take these steps to reduce your risk:
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 <li>Understand your risk for heart disease: If you have diabetes, you&rsquo;re more likely to have other chronic conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and unmanaged blood glucose (also called blood sugar). These conditions also increase the risk for heart disease, but managing these chronic conditions can help decrease your risk for heart disease.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>Trade unhealthy for healthy behaviors. Eat right and keep moving!</li>
</ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
 <li>Talk to your doctor regularly about whole body health. Get your annual physical and check your numbers.</li>
</ul>

Take action
<a href="http://mobilizeaz.com/takeback" target="_blank">Mobilize AZ</a> &mdash; Blue Cross&reg; Blue Shield&reg; of Arizona&rsquo;s (BCBSAZ) public health initiative to prevent and address opioid and substance use disorder, boost mental health, and combat diabetes &mdash; makes it easy to work together to make Arizona healthier. Learn more about this initiative and the impact diabetes has on Arizonans by visiting <a href="https://www.mobilizeaz.com/diabetes/" target="_blank">MobilizeAZ.com/diabetes</a>. 
<a href="https://knowdiabetesbyheart.org/living-with-type-2/resources/" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more tips on how to show your heart some love. 
 
Source: <a href="https://knowdiabetesbyheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Small-steps-to-big-changes.pdf" target="_blank">https://knowdiabetesbyheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Small-steps-to-big-changes.pdf</a>

Show Your Heart Some Love