You can live well with diabetes! diabetes, the body is not able to use blood sugar properly. people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes should have …
Information For Patients With Diabetes
ROCHESTER COMMUNITY PRACTICE GUIDELINE
DIABETES AND YOU
You can live well with diabetes Having diabetes means that the level of glucose in the blood - called blood sugar - is too high Normally, the body gets the energy it needs from blood sugar, which comes from food With diabetes, the body is not able to use blood sugar properly As a result, blood sugar builds up in the blood
GOOD CONTROL COUNTS
Although there is no cure, you can control diabetes Because high blood glucose levels can affect many parts of the body, good control means fewer problems with eye, kidney, nerve, and blood vessel disease Keeping your blood sugar level within a certain range is the best way to stay healthy A simple home blood test can tell you what your blood sugar level is at any one time Suggested goals are 110 before meals and 140 after meals, but your doctor may set different targets for you By testing your blood sugar at home, you will learn more about how your body responds to food, exercise, and medication Talk to your health care provider about when and how often you should test Another way to track blood glucose control is with a different blood test called
glycated hemoglobin often referred to as the A1C test A laboratory must do this test A glycated hemoglobin test gives you a picture of your average blood glucose for the past three to four months The normal range is from 4 to 6 and the recommended goal for diabetics is 65 or less for good control You should have this test for the first time when you are diagnosed with diabetes From then on, people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes should have this test repeated three to four times per year Think of your A1C result as a batting average Even though each individual game is important, the batting average tells you how well you are doing overall Like most people, your blood sugar goes up and down throughout the day, similar to a batting average from game to game The A1C test lets you know your average, or overall control The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan is working Have your blood pressure checked at every physician visit and keep it under control High Blood Pressure Hypertension may lead to heart disease The American Diabetes Association now recommends that people with diabetes maintain a blood pressure of 130/80 or lower
THE TEAM
APPROACH
You should be receiving your care by a team put together by your doctor The team may include an eye doctor, nurses, and a dietician In addition, your doctor may send you to other specialists as well, such as a foot doctor In general, you should visit your doctor at least four times a year until youve reached your treatment goals Then your health care provider may recommend less frequent visits They will all work with you to develop a self-care plan that works best for you Remember: you can control diabetes
Patient Information No 2: Page 1 of 1
Source:mayoclinicproceedings.com
