My goal is to make living with diabetes more simple. For three of the major health issues with diabetes, it's as simple as A B C.
A is for A1C.
This is the blood test that can tell how well, on average, your blood glucose control has been over the last 3-4 months. The American Diabetes Association recommends** that the A1C be below 7%.
B is for Blood Pressure.
Keeping your blood pressure controlled is very important, especially in diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends** that blood pressure be less than 130/80 mmHg.
C is for Cholesterol.
Abnormal cholesterol levels are often seen in diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends** that LDL cholesterol (the "Bad" cholesterol) be less than 100mg/dL. They recommend that triglyceride levels by less than 150mg/dL.
**Please notice that I kept typing "recommends." These are recommendations for the general adult public with diabetes. Your physician may have very specific goals for your particular situation.
If you want to carry out our alphabet model a little further, you could add D for daily exercise, E for eating healthfully, and F for foot care. Working in concert with your healthcare team, it is very important to do appropriate physical activity and eat properly. These are the cornerstones of diabetes care. Taking care of your feet, including looking for cuts, scrapes, or infections everyday, and wearing good shoes are also very important steps.
Garren Woodby, PharmD, CDE
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