A person with diabetes is believed to be more aware of his/her condition and has a better prognosis. It is necessary that a diabetic should be more cautious about eating habits, lifestyle and blood glucose monitoring pattern.  Besides periodic blood sugar measurement, patients also need to be aware of the ABC of diabetes control.

A is for A1C (or HbA1C)

A1C or HbA1C is glycated hemoglobin which is a reflection of blood sugar control over past 2-3 months. An ideal A1C level is less than 7%.  Most of the patients are familiar with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) post meal or post prandial plasma glucose (PPG) levels which should be below 120 and 160 mg/dl respectively, which are valuable indicators of current blood sugar. Less stringent A1C goals (such as <8%) may be appropriate for patients with a history of severe low blood sugar, limited life expectancy, advanced vascular complications and those with long-standing diabetes in whom the general goal is difficult to attain. Patients who are meeting treatment goals are advised to perform the A1C test at least two times a year and quarterly in patients whose therapy has changed or who are not meeting goals.

B stands for Blood pressure

BP should be below 130/ 80 mm Hg. Higher blood pressure indicates greater stress on your heart, kidney and eyes.

C stands for cholesterol.

A complete lipid profile test will measure your good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol. If medications are prescribed to control blood pressure or cholesterol, patients are advised to make sure to have it on time and not to skip or alter doses without discussing with their doctors.

To prevent diabetes, make sure you change your sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. If already afflicted with diabetes, remember that regular blood sugar monitoring is the key to giving a person the information he needs to avoid long term complications.

Written By: Dr. Roshni