How to Stay on Top of Your Diabetes ABCs
Learn more about managing your Diabetes ABCs to help lower your chances of future health issues
First things first, what are the Diabetes ABCs? According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, your diabetes ABCs are your A1C, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol. Correctly managing all three can help you avoid future health issues like heart attack, stroke, and other health issues that come with diabetes. Below we are going to discuss ways to stay on top of your diabetes ABCs.
A1C
As most people with type 1 or type 2 Diabetes know, an A1C test measures the amount of glucose attached to your red blood cells from the previous 12 weeks. A test that is distributed every three months can be easily forgotten. Here are some tips on how to stay on top of your A1C before your test.
Make a Plan – whether it’s eating three meals a day or planning out exercise, it’s always helpful to make a plan and stay consistent to help better stabilize your blood sugar.
Diet – Having a well-balanced diet is crucial to keeping your A1C at a lower level. Avoiding foods with high trans-fat, high sugar, and high calories is an excellent first step in taking charge of your diet.
Exercise – Strive to implement up to 90 minutes of exercise a day.
Blood Pressure
According to John Hopkins Medicine, “High blood pressure is twice as likely to strike a person with diabetes than a person without diabetes.” As someone with diabetes, it’s more important than ever to keep your blood pressure at an average level. Follow these tips from the American Diabetes Association to help prevent high blood pressure.
Reducing your salt intake
Avoid smoking and avoid exposure to 2nd hand smoke
Practice stress-relieving activities
Lower your alcohol intake
Exercising regularly
Maintaining a healthy weight
Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). According to Medline Plus, your target total cholesterol should be around 125 to 200mg/dl. Read on to learn more about how you can lower your cholesterol and maintain a healthy cholesterol number.
Avoid foods with high saturated fats.
Increase the amount of fiber in your diet
Exercising regularly
Losing weight
Maintaining your Diabetes ABCs is crucial to maintaining your health and avoiding any future health risks. With the new Cix Health Diabetes Care Program, you can manage, log, and receive insights into your current condition. Download the Cix Health app today to learn more.