The
A1c Test
What is the A1c test?
The A1c test measures how much sugar is in your red blood cells.
The higher your blood sugar levels have been in the last 6-8 weeks,
the higher your A1c number will be.
How often should my
A1c be checked?
Every 3-4 months.
What does the test
result mean?
A general target is 7.0 or less, but your goal might be lower
or higher. It depends on your age, type of diabetes, and any other
problems you might have.
What kind of action
can I take?
To lower your A1c number, you can do several things:
- Be more active
- Work out a meal plan
that suits you and use it well!
- Check your blood sugar
often and use the results to adjust your diabetes care.
- Change your diabetes
medicines
The Blood Pressure Test
High blood pressure causes
a lot of damage in your body. It greatly increases your risk for
stroke, heart attacks, and kidney disease.
What is the blood
pressure test?
Blood pressure
cuff used on your upper arm will indicate the pressure against the
walls of your blood vessels.
How often should my
blood pressure be checked?
At least once
a year.
What does the test
result mean?
Your target
is to have your blood pressure no higher than 130 / 80.
What kind of action
can I take?
High blood
pressure can be treated. You can do many things to lower your blood
pressure:
- Be more active
- If you weigh too much,
try to lose some pounds
- If you smoke, now
is the time to stop
- Medicines can help
to lower your blood pressure
The Microalbumin Test
What is the Microalbumin
test?
A urine test measures the amount of a protein called albumin
in your urine, and tells you if your kidneys are doing their job.
How often should my
microalbumin be checked?
At least once
a year.
What does the test
result mean?
The target
number is 30 or lower. If your number is high, you need prompt treatment.
What kind of action
can I take?
You can do
several things to slow or stop kidney problems, especially if you
catch the problems early enough:
- Keep your A1c and
blood sugar levels in your target range
- Keep your blood pressure
close to normal (130 / 80 or less)
- Talk to your doctor
about medicines that can keep your microalbumin level from rising.
The LDL Cholesterol Test
LDL in your blood sticks
to the walls of the arteries, clogging them up and keeping blood
from flowing freely. This can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and
other problems with blood flow.
What is the LDL cholesterol
test?
It is a blood
test that checks your LDL levels.
How often should my
LDL cholesterol be checked?
At least once
a year.
What does the test
result mean?
Your target
is to have your LDL cholesterol number at 100 or lower.
What kind of action
can I take?
Do several
things to lower your LDL cholesterol:
- Be more active
- Eat less saturated
fat (meat and dairy products)
- Keep your blood pressure
close to normal
- If you smoke, stop
- If you weigh too much,
try to lose some pounds
- Ask your doctor about
the new statin medicines
The Eye Exam
What happens during
an eye exam?
An eye exam
requires special equipment, and an ophthalmologist or another professional
who specializes in eyes to examine your eyes, looking for any early
changes or signs of diabetic eye disease.
How often should I
have an eye exam?
At least once
a year.
What does the test
result mean?
If your doctor
finds early signs of eye disease, make sure you understand what
it means. Your eyes may need treatment.
What kind of action
can I take?
Do several
things to prevent, slow or stop diabetic eye disease, especially
if you catch the problems early:
- Keep your A1c and
blood sugar levels in your target range.
- If you smoke, stop
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