Managing the ABCs of diabetes is a great way to prevent diabetes-related complications. Here is how to control your diabetes.

Every year more people are being diagnosed with diabetes across the globe. Understanding and managing this chronic disease improves your health and quality of life. The first step to managing diabetes is controlling the ABCs of diabetes to prevent stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Improve your lifestyle by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and taking medication.

Here is everything you need to know about managing diabetes and ABC levels:

Controlling the ABCs of diabetes

You must keep track of your ABC levels to manage diabetes better: A stands for A1C, B is for blood pressure, and C stands for cholesterol. Here is how to keep track of the progress of each element:

A: A1C

The hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test measures your blood glucose levels over the past three months. To maintain your blood sugar levels, your doctor suggests an A1C test every six months. They may ask you to come to the clinic or have the test done at a laboratory and provide the results.

Minor variations in your A1C level significantly influence your risk of diabetes-related complications. Lowering your A1C by a single percentage reduces your risk for all forms of complications by 30–35% . Every A1C rate above 7% doubles your risk levels of complications.

Work with your diabetes care team to set an individualized A1C plan that maintains your blood sugar levels. You could also test your blood sugar levels at home to determine whether your actions are working.

Using a standard plasma-calibrated blood glucose meter, your blood sugar targets should be as presented below:

• Before meals: 70–130 mg/dl
• 1 to 2 hours after eating: less than 180 mg/dl

Keeping track of your blood glucose levels helps you prevent various health issues, including:

• Eye diseases that increase your risk of blindness
• Kidney disease
• Nerve damage or neuropathy causes numbness and pain in your feet and hands

B: Blood pressure

Your blood pressure needs to be checked regularly to prevent cardiovascular complications. Check your blood pressure at least four times annually and at every doctor’s visit. You can also use a blood pressure monitor in the comfort of your home.

The recommended blood pressure for diabetes is 140/80 mm Hg. Keeping track of your blood pressure helps you identify periods when it is below or above the required levels so you can be prepared to adjust your lifestyle if it’s not within a normal range. Maintaining your ideal blood pressure lowers your risk of contracting chronic issues such as cardiovascular and kidney diseases by 33 to 55%.

C: Cholesterol

You must frequently take blood tests to measure low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol every year. Here are the levels you should aim for – these numbers can be modified by your doctor depending on your risk profile:

• HDL cholesterol for women: above 50 mg/dl
• HDL cholesterol for men: above 40 mg/dl
• LDL cholesterol: under 100 mg/dl
• Triglycerides: under 150 mg/dl

Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease. Your doctor can help you develop a plan to achieve and maintain good cholesterol levels.

A mix of vegetables and colorful fruits can also be beneficial, as can foods high in whole grain fiber and low in trans and saturated fats. Adding omega-3 fatty acids and plant sterols also lowers your cholesterol levels. If a diet change does not regulate your cholesterol levels, a doctor’s prescription could help you attain your goal.

The importance of ABCs in managing diabetes

Managing your ABCs is critical since, with diabetes, you are significantly more likely to suffer a stroke or cardiovascular disease than others without diabetes. Even at a young age, diabetes increases your risk of severe heart disease.

Diabetes also doubles your risk of developing kidney diseases. Maintaining your ABCs supports your health and lowers your risk of chronic diseases such as kidney diseases. Aim to keep your blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure at the proper levels to improve your quality of life.

Ways to control Your ABCs

A physician should guide you on steps to control your ABCs depending on your health condition. Here are some general ways to manage your ABC levels:

Medication

You must take your medications daily as the doctor prescribes to control your blood sugar. Avoid skipping your meds even when you feel healthy. Use reminders to alert you when it’s time to take your diabetes medication.

With diabetes, you must take high cholesterol and blood pressure medicine as your doctor prescribes. If you have a problem with your prescriptions, or cannot afford them, reach out to your doctor to guide you to pharmacies that may offer discounted prices.

Lifestyle changes

Shift into a healthy lifestyle that includes improving your diet, as it has a massive impact on your health. Here are some lifestyle changes you need to implement to control your ABC levels:

• Eat healthy foods: Eat a lot of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Limit your intake of fatty or fried foods and the amount of meat you eat. Following a healthy diet lowers your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This reduces complications associated with diabetes.
• Be active: Engage in physical exercise for 30 to 60 minutes daily. You can walk or jog to remain physically active. Engage in strength training or aerobics to control your diabetes.
• Avoid alcohol: Do not use alcohol as it increases blood pressure and blood sugar, putting you at a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Stop smoking: If you are a smoker, find help to stop smoking. Join a smoking cessation program to increase your chances of success. Smoking increases your risks of stroke and other heart conditions.
• Lose weight: If you are overweight, you need to find a way to lose the excess weight. Weight loss makes managing diabetes easier and lowers your risk of complications.

Get support

It helps to have plenty of support around you to help you manage diabetes. Ask your family and friends to hold you accountable to stick to a healthy lifestyle. You could also join a support group for people with diabetes. In these groups, you remind each other to live a healthy lifestyle. It can also be beneficial to find friends with similar goals.

There are other methods you can use to help manage your diabetes, but these are excellent tools to begin moving in the right direction. Again, always consult your physician before taking action to ensure they’re suitable for you and your health.

Manage diabetes today!

With diabetes, controlling your ABCs of diabetes is crucial to help lower the risk of complications such as heart disease. Managing your blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure requires you to follow a healthy lifestyle. You should also take your medications as prescribed by your doctor.

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