Health and Business: Diabetes Complications

A Wellness Approach to Diabetes

Complications are not an inevitable part of living with diabetes and importantly, there is a lot you can do to stay well and remain healthy with diabetes.

There are many benefits to you in taking this wellness approach to diabetes.

Diabetes can affect all of the blood vessels in the body, thereby causing potential harm to your:

Eyes
Bowels / Stomach
Brain
Nerves
Heart
Feet
Kidneys
Sexual organs

The key is knowing and looking after your A, B, Cs.

You’re A,B, Cs are the following:

A = A1c (3 month average blood sugar test)

B = Blood pressure

C = Cholesterol

What are the Numbers?

Blood sugar targets:

Range of 80‐110mg/dl fasting and pre meals
Less than 160mg/dL 2 hours after meals (ideally less than a 50 point rise from your pre meal blood sugar)
100‐140mg/dL at bed‐time
Aim for your A1c to be between 6‐7% (providing you are not having many low blood sugar levels).

Note: For every 1% you reduce your A1c, you reduce your risk of complications of diabetes by up to 35% depending on the complication

Blood pressure targets:

Aim for blood pressure readings below 130/80mmHg or less than 120/70mm/Hg if you have known kidney problems

Cholesterol targets:

Aim for a total cholesterol less than 200mg/ dL.
Aim for a HDL cholesterol (Good) of more than 40mg/dl (men) and 50mg/dL (women).
Aim for a LDL cholesterol (Bad) less than 100mg/dL or less than 70mg/dL if you have heart problems
Aim for a triglyceride level (Ugly) less than 150mg/dL.

“Complications are not inevitable"

Your Wellness Approach to diabetes should include:

Get educated – know how to best manage your diabetes
Monitor your blood sugar levels and know your targets.
Maintain your A1c between 6‐7%. Your health care team can monitor this every 3‐4 months as required.
Maintain cholesterol levels as recommended above. Your health care team can check this once to twice per year as required.
Maintain blood pressure under 130 /80 mmHg. You should have this checked at each health visit.
Monitor your kidney function. Your doctor should check for microalbuminuria (small protein) at least once per year.
Monitor your eyes by having them checked every 12 months
Check your feet daily – keep them soft and re‐ port cuts or wounds immediately.
Maintain your ideal body weight, especially your waist measure. Aim for gradual weight loss if overweight.
Monitor your food intake – low fat foods in particular.
Maintain your exercise levels at 30 minutes on five days per week.
Do not smoke. If you smoke – QUIT!
Maintain regular appointments with your health care team: