The "ABC's" of Managing Diabetes

We’ve been bombarded with news, telling us that more children and adults are now obese and developing diabetes.  Being diagnosed with diabetes sounds pretty desperate and awful, and it could be… but, the good news is that it doesn’t need to be.

Today, being diagnosed with diabetes is still a problem, but with 21^st century treatment and lifestyle changes, it can be properly managed and nearly erased.  This is great news!

Managing diabetes is sometimes difficult psychologically; one must bend to the disorder and daily habits and lifestyle changes that one may not be used to – such as exercising more and eating healthier – are required.  When lifestyle changes just aren’t enough to control the glucose levels, we now have newer drugs with fewer side effects to help us.

Important improvements in diabetes treatment have shown us that glucose control needs to be better than we thought 40 years ago, and also that optimal blood pressure and cholesterol levels make a major difference in managing the complications of diabetes.

We tend to describe this change in treatment focus as the “ABC’s of Diabetes:”  

• A – Hemoglobin A1c tests should be between 6 - 7%
• B – Blood pressure should be 130 or less
• C – LDL (bad) cholesterol should be under 100

If you have diabetes and keep up with the “ABC’s” several times a year, you can improve your treatment to avoid complications of diabetes such as heart attacks, kidney failure, bad vision, and potential amputations. 

It is possible for you to live a virtually normal life without significant complications through exercise, diet, medication, and close monitoring.  Diabetes may be a frustration, but it certainly does not need to be a tragedy!  

-Posted by James F. McMurry, Jr., MD