Over time, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. These types of damage are the result of damage to small vessels, referred to as microvascular disease.
Diabetes is also an important factor in accelerating the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to strokes, coronary heart disease, and other large blood vessel diseases. This is referred to as macrovascular disease.
Diabetes is also an important factor in accelerating the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to strokes, coronary heart disease, and other large blood vessel diseases. This is referred to as macrovascular disease.
Checking your blood glucose levels often through out the day will help you to figure out how to keep good control.
- After washing your hands, insert a test strip into your meter.
- Use your lancing device on the side of your fingertip to get a drop of blood.
- Gently squeeze or massage your finger until a drop of blood forms. (Required sample sizes vary by meter.)
- Touch and hold the edge of the test strip to the drop of blood, and wait for the result.
- Your blood glucose level will appear on the meter's display
Note: All meters are slightly different, so always refer to your user's manual for specific instructions.
Other tips for checking:
- With some meters, you can also use your forearm, thigh or fleshy part of your hand.
- There are spring-loaded lancing devices that make sticking yourself less painful.
- If you use your fingertip, stick the side of your fingertip by your fingernail to avoid having sore spots on the frequently used part of your finger.
Here are the blood glucose ranges for adults with diabetes:
Glycemic control | |
| A1C (glycated hemoglobin) | <7.0% |
| Preprandial plasma glucose (before a meal) | 70–130 mg/dl (5.0–7.2 mmol/l) |
| Postprandial plasma glucose (after a meal) | <180 mg/dl (<10.0 mmol/l) |
| Blood pressure | <130/80 mmHg |
| Lipids | |
| LDL | <100 mg/dl (<2.6 mmol/l) |
| Triglycerides | <150 mg/dl (<1.7 mmol/l) |
| HDL | >40 mg/dl (>1.1 mmol/l) |
A1C is a blood test that helps you and your doctor monitor your overall glucose control.
It gives an average of the amount of glucose in your blood over a few months' time. It is usually ordered 2 to 4 times a year. If you are newly diagnosed or having trouble maintaining good day-to-day control, it may be ordered more often.
Fighting diabetes with supplements may not be such a far-fetched idea.
The dietary supplements in this section are some of the most commonly used among people with diabetes. They include: omega-3 fatty acids, alpha lipoic acid, chromium, coenzyme Q10, garlic, and magnesium.
