The 101 Tips Series is a reference tool to cover your diabetes care
from head to toe.
Whether you're looking for tips on nutrition or footcare, the
easy-to-read,
Q&A format appeals to all types of readers.
View titles in the series!
NEWSLETTER
Information on Diabetes
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Tight control
means getting as close to a normal (nondiabetic) blood
sugar level as you safely can.
Ideally, this means levels between 70 mg/dl (3.8 mmol/l)
and 130 mg/dl before meals (7.2 mmol/L),
and less than 180 (10mmol/L) two hours after starting a
meal, with a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) level
less than 7 percent. The target number for glycated
hemoglobin will vary depending on the type of test your
doctor's laboratory uses.
In real life, you should set your goals with your
doctor. Keeping a normal level all the time is not
practical.
And it's not needed to get results.
Every bit you
lower your blood sugar level helps to prevent
complications.
Living with tight control
To get tight control, you must do the following:
Pay more
attention to your diet and exercise.
Measure
your blood sugar levels more often.
If you take insulin, change how much you use and
your injection schedule.
By Richard
R. Rubin, PhD, CDE, ADA's Past-President, Health Care & Education
Tip 1: Learn about diabetes. Tip 2: Understand your loved one's diabetes. Tip 3: Find out what your loved one really needs. Tip 4: Offer the help your loved one asks for. Tip 5: Talk about your feelings. Tip 6: Get help. Tip 7: Get started
On each of our expert pages, you will find a list of Top
10 Questions with helpful answers about preventing and managing
diabetes. If you do not see the answer you need, please submit a
new question. And don't forget to check back regularly for new
information.
"Average glucose" will soon be a
key part of your diabetes tool kit. Estimated Average Glucose (eAG)
is a new way to understand how well you're managing your diabetes.
Using eAG may help you get a better idea of how well you are taking care
of your diabetes.
And that can help you and your health care provider know what changes
you may need
to make to be as healthy as possible.
It is important that the blood sugar levels being aimed for are as
near normal as possible (that is in the range of those of a person who
does not have diabetes).
These are:
3.5 - 5.5mmols/l before meals
less than 8mmols/l, 2 hours after meals.
There are many
different opinions about the ideal range to aim for. As this is so
individual to each person, the target levels must be agreed between the
person and their diabetes team.Your
healthcare team will be able to give your individual medical advice
on what targets are best for you.
The target blood sugar ranges below are indicated as a guide.
Diabetes UK has been an innovator in branching out
into all the main social media websites, in an effort to
reach people who need us by setting up pages on the
sites you use every day.
Information, support and engagement
Almost two-thirds of people using the internet
communicate through online communities such as Facebook,
Myspace and YouTube and, lately, newer services such as
Twitter.
Online communities let you chat and discuss issues
with other supporters, watch and comment on our videos,
upload your photos, and discover virtual HQ with its
information and activities. Also a dedicated diabetes
forum site.
More than ever, people from different regions can
share experiences and ideas online and there areare
dedicated volunteers making the online communities are a
safe and friendly place for all.
Recommended blood sugar targets for people with diabetes*
AIC**
Fasting blood glucose/ blood glucose before meals
(mmol/L)
Blood glucose two hours after eating
(mmol/L)
Target for most patients with
diabetes
≤7.0%
4.0 to 7.0 (72-126 mg/dl)
5.0 to 10 (90-180 mg/dl)
Normal range
≤6.0%
4.0 to 6.0 (72-108 mg/dl)
5.0 to 8.0 (90-141 mg/dl)
* This information is based on the Canadian Diabetes
Association 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention
and Management of Diabetes in Canada and is a guide. Talk to
your doctor about YOUR blood glucose target ranges. ** A1C is a
blood test that indicates an average of your overall blood
glucose levels over the past 120 days. A1C targets for pregnant
women and children 12 years of age and under are different.
When the amount of blood glucose (sugar in your blood) has
dropped below your target range (less than 4 mmol/L) it is called
low blood sugar or hypoglycemia.
By
Dr Michael Hutch PhD
