Use Your ABCs to Control Diabetes

/

You learned your ABCs in grade school to learn how to read. A, B, and C are the basic building blocks of reading - along with the other 23 letters of the alphabet! But something as basic as “ABC” can also be incredibly helpful when learning how to control diabetes and minimize its complications.

This Diabetes Awareness Month, we’re breaking down diabetes control into these basic categories:

  • “A” = A1C

A1C is a simple blood test measuring the average amount of glucose, or sugar, in your bloodstream over the last three months. A1C levels consistently 9 or higher represent a significant risk increase. As A1C numbers go higher, so do the risks of diabetic complications such as kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and other foot problems. For people with diabetes, an A1C reading below 7 makes doctors happy and patients healthier.

You can manage your A1C with regular exercise, a balanced diet, limited alcohol consumption, stress avoidance, and carefully timed monitoring of your blood glucose levels as your doctor recommends.

  • “B” = Blood pressure

High blood pressure stresses your heart and blood vessels. If that stress is high enough, you can have a heart attack or a stroke. Pile diabetes on top of high blood pressure, and your risk increases by four. That’s worth repeating: diabetics with high blood pressure are four times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

Fortunately, there are effective medications for reducing blood pressure. Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight will also help keep your blood pressure healthy.

  • “C = Cholesterol

The amount of cholesterol in your blood is another indicator of heart health. High cholesterol – high triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in particular – puts undue strain on your heart.

If we’re talking about our ABCs, then let’s not overlook that little letter “s.”

  • “s” = Smoking

One of the best things you can do to keep your diabetes and diabetic foot problems from worsening is to quit smoking. Nicotine increases blood sugar levels, raises blood pressure, and upsets the balance between your “good” and “bad” cholesterol levels. It also damages the blood vessels and nerves in your feet.

The board-certified podiatrists at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center encourage our patients with diabetes to visit us at least once a year. We provide excellent diabetic foot care at our Howell and Jackson podiatry offices. For an appointment with Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, or Dr. Joseph Saka, call (732) 905-1110 or contact us online.