So, what are the ABCs of diabetes?

A is for A1C. A1C is a test that shows your average glucose range for the last few months. This lets your doctor know whether you fall under the normal glucose range or not.

B is for blood pressure. When you have diabetes, controlling your blood pressure is just as important as controlling a normal sugar levels. High blood pressure puts you at risk for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

C is for cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the bloodstream. High cholesterol is another factor that increases your risk of serious problems like heart attacks or stroke.

Now that you know the ABCs of diabetes management, maintaining it requires knowing what exactly should be your ABC levels. In short, it depends.

Your personal ABC levels are determined by several factors:

1. The severity of your diabetes range
2. Your age
3. Other health problems (if any)

However, for many people with diabetes the target for:

• A1C diabetes range is below 7 percent⁵⁴
• Blood pressure is below 140/90, or lower in some cases⁵⁴
• LDL cholesterol level is below 100⁵⁴

So what are some ways you can control your ABCs?

Working with your doctor, you can set up a plan that fits you perfectly. As a general guide, here are some points to consider:

1. Timely medications – Diabetes medicines are often prescribed for daily consumption to control sugar levels. Sticking to a routine when it comes to medicines is your best bet to maintain normal glucose levels. If you are facing any problems with your meds, it is imperative to inform your doctor or nurse as soon as possible.
2. Healthy food choices – Another major way to maintain a normal sugar range is shifting to healthier food options. Eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products is a good starting point. Avoiding fatty, fried foods and limiting your meat consumption also helps in achieving normal sugar levels. Maintaining these food choices over time is the end goal.
3. Being active – Research shows that being active can greatly help in maintaining normal glucose or sugar levels. As a general rule, make sure to get in at least 30 minutes of up-and-about time, 5 days a week. You can personalize this active time to make it fun for you, e.g. walk if you don’t like running.
4. Continuous glucose monitoring – Monitoring glucose levels at home between doctor visits is a good way to know if what you are doing is working to keep your glucose levels controlled. Normal glucose level targets for most people using a standard, plasma calibrated glucose meter are as follows:

• Before meals, 70-130 mg/dL⁵⁴
• 1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal, less than 180 mg/dL⁵⁴

A much easier, efficient, and pain-free way to monitor your glucose levels is to invest in a CGM device. Continuous Glucose Monitoring devices / CGM are a type of wearable technology that can constantly track your body’s glucose or sugar levels.

Regardless of the type of your diabetes, these devices track glucose levels 24X7. According to this, you can take action and make adjustments to your lifestyle.

At the end of the day, the lifestyle choices you make can have a big impact on your ABCs of diabetes. Making the right choices for yourself will not only help you control your diabetes but also allow you to live your life to the fullest!

For more of the best food for diabetes control, diets and food for people living with diabetes, exercising tips, and information on the Continuous Glucose Monitoring devices, check out some of our diabetes management blogs.