The ABC’s of Diabetes refers to three aspects of your health that you should monitor when diagnosed with diabetes. In this article, I want to give you a quick overview and remind you of the ABCs of diabetes.
1. A1C
A1C is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar level over the last three months. Red blood cells live for an average of three months, which is why this is possible.
When blood sugar encounters red blood cells, it attaches itself to the hemoglobin, where it remains. Once linked, glucose and hemoglobin become what’s called “glycated hemoglobin,” also called A1C. The hemoglobin A1C test measures the percentage of red blood cells in the bloodstream that have glucose attached to hemoglobin.
It is important to have this measurement taken because this test will diagnose pre-diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and monitor how well your diabetes treatment plan is working.
An A1C test result is reported as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher your blood sugar levels have been over the last few months.
For diagnosing purposes, A1C level of:
- Less than 5.7% means you don’t have diabetes.
- 5.7% to 6.4% signals pre-diabetes
- 6.5% or higher usually indicate Type I diabetes or Type 2 diabetes
A higher percentage of red blood cells containing glycated hemoglobin means that you have higher levels of blood sugar in your bloodstream. For people with diabetes, this means the disease is not well-controlled.
2. Blood Pressure
Your risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke can be reduced by keeping your blood pressure under control. Two out of every three people with Type 2 diabetes also have high blood pressure or take prescription medications to lower their blood pressure.
If you have high blood pressure, the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls is consistently too high. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is when the pressure in your blood vessels is (140/90 mmHg or higher). The heart also has to work harder to pump blood. High blood pressure is common but can be serious if not treated. High blood pressure can damage your kidneys as well.
People with high blood pressure may not feel symptoms. Get your blood pressure checked to know for sure.
If you have high blood pressure, purchase a blood pressure cuff and record your readings frequently. Pass that information on to your health care team.
To deep dive into understanding high blood pressure, visit this site. NYP Diabetes Resource Center
3. Cholesterol
Your cardiovascular health is impacted by out-of-control cholesterol and lipids.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that’s made by the body and found in some animal-based foods. Blood cholesterol levels describe a group of fats also known as lipoproteins, or lipids, which include HDL-C, or good cholesterol and LDL-C, or bad cholesterol. When LDL-C levels are too high, it can cause narrowed or blocked arteries. Unfortunately, people with diabetes are more prone to having high cholesterol, which can cause cardiovascular disease.
Your health care team will do a blood test to measure your lipid levels. It measures several types of fat in the blood. These are:
Low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol = bad cholesterol
A high LDL-cholesterol level is linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. For people taking statins, it’s important to work with your health care team to manage your LDL. High LDL cholesterol can damage your arteries, cause heart attack and stroke.
High-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol = good cholesterol
With HDL-cholesterol, higher levels are associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular disease. Low HDL cholesterol puts you at higher risk for heart disease. Factors including genetics, Type 2 diabetes and certain drugs can lower HDL cholesterol levels. Smoking, being overweight and being sedentary can also reduce HDL cholesterol.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. Normal triglyceride levels vary by age and sex. A high triglyceride level combined with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol is linked with, the buildup of fatty deposits in artery walls. This increases the risk for heart attack, peripheral artery disease and stroke.
Take steps now to manage your cholesterol and reduce your chance of cardiovascular disease and perhaps premature death.
How does diabetes affect cholesterol?
Diabetes tends to lower good cholesterol levels and raise triglycerides and badcholesterol levels, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke.
Learning how to prevent and treat abnormal cholesterol levels is an important step in maintaining optimum health.
Keeping your blood sugar at your goal level and being aware of the ABC’s of Diabetes will significantly reduce complications that will impact your eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Final note: Increased A1C, high blood pressure and unbalanced cholesterol is a dangerous trio. Speak with your health care team and work out a plan to address these areas of your health.
It is important to me to make you aware of what could happen in your body if you have diabetes.
HWB
