top ten list

Question 1: How do I become educated about my diabetes?

Answer:

Attend a Diabetes Education Centre. Stay current! (I'm always learning, the educators are always learning; shouldn't you?).

Question 2: How do I know if my blood sugars are under control?

Answer:

	Use a glucometer regularly (1-4 times per day).
	Have your A1C (glycosylated hemoglobin) done 3-4 times/yr.

Question 3: What should my blood sugars be?

Answer:

Aim for ideal readings (blood glucose 4-6 before meals, 5-8 two hours after meals, A1C 6.0 or less).

But, you may have to accept less than ideal (blood glucose 4-7 before meals, 5-10 two hours after meals, A1C 7.0 or less).

Question 4: When (and by whom) should I have my eyes examined?

Answer:

Have a yearly (dilated) eye exam by a highly skilled eye specialist.

Question 5: What should my cholesterol be and how often should it be checked?

Answer:

	Aim for an optimal LDL of under 2.0; cholesterol/HDL ratio below 4.0.
	Checked yearly (more often if a change in cholesterol medication has been made).

Question 6: What should my blood pressure be?

Answer:

Ideal: 130/80 or less.

But, this is not easy to achieve and typically requires multiple drugs (often 3 or 4 different types of blood pressure pills).

Question 7: How do I know if my heart is okay?

Answer:

	Tell your doctor if you have chest pains or difficulty breathing.
	Ask if you should have an exercise stress test.
	Ask if you should take aspirin (coated; 325 or 81 mg).

Question 8: How do I know if my kidneys are okay?

Answer:

Do a yearly urine test for microalbumin (either a 24 hour urine collection to be tested for microalbumin or a single urine sample to be tested for albumin/creatinine ratio).

Question 9: Am I at risk of a foot ulcer or infection or amputation?

Answer:

	Look out for numbness or lack of feeling.
	Have your feet inspected carefully DAILY (have someone else do it if you can't).
	Have your toenails cut carefully.
	Have your physician examine your feet yearly (more often if you have known foot problems).

Question 10: How can I avoid pneumonia?

Answer:

	Get an annual flu shot.
	Get a Pneumovax shot.

Be sure to also have a look at my Ten Golden Rules for Preventing Complications.

For a very, very, detailed description of virtually all the goals & targets have a look at the CDA Clinical Practice Guidelines (the info is designed for a medical audience, but a fair bit of it is quite 'readable.')