Diabetes: Know Your Numbers

Last week I attended an informative seminar at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC on “Living with Diabetes.” It was presented by Dr. Joshua Cohen, an endocrinologist at the George Washington University School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism Diabetes Center.

He said that health is the #1 concern on the Internet and within health, diabetes is #1. He defined diabetes as a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose sugar. Diabetes is also closely related to obesity. In 1990, the obesity trend was 10 to 15%. In 2001, it was greater than 25%. Furthermore, children born today have a 30 to 50% chance of developing diabetes!

The danger of diabetes, of course, is the resulting complications that occur on the macro vascular level and the micro vascular level. Vascular refers to the vessels of the body, especially the arteries and veins, that carry blood and lymph.

On the macro vascular level, there are atherosclerosis complications (deposits of fat causing the walls of arteries to thicken) such as coronary heart disease and stroke. On the micro vascular level, it can affect the eyes, kidneys, and nerves leading to blindness, kidney failure, and limb amputation, respectively.

As a knowledgeable patient, Dr. Cohen says you need to know your numbers.

Hemoglobin A1C

Blood pressure and lipid levels (triglycerides, cholesterol — LDL, HDL — remember “L” for lousy and “H” for happy)

C-reactive protein (CRP) which measures the level of inflammation in the body and is a determinant of your risk of heart disease

The hemoglobin A1C is the average glucose level over a two to three month period. Just a 1% reduction can significantly reduce diabetic complications. The number should be less than 7%. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says blood pressure numbers should be:

Healthy blood pressure: below 120/80

Early high blood pressure: between 120/80 and 140/90

High blood pressure: 140/90 or higher

The ADA says the LDL, HDL and triglycerides numbers you should aim for are:

LDL Cholesterol: Less than 100 mg/dL

HDL Cholesterol: Greater than 60 mg/dL

Triglycerides: Less than 150 mg/dL

The American Heart Association says

You are at low risk of developing cardiovascular disease if your hs-CRP level is lower than 1.0mg/L

You are at average risk of developing cardiovascular disease if your levels are between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/L

You are at high risk for cardiovascular disease if your hs-CRP level is higher than 3.0 mg/L

Dr. Cohen stressed the importance of having a treatment plan. If your body needs insulin, it is not a narcotic. If your body can’t produce it, you risk hypoglycemia. Take a glass of milk or juice immediately. More than previously thought, your whole gastrointestinal (G/I) system plays a role.

Personally, I do not have diabetes, nor am I a pre-diabetic. However, most of my very close friends do have diabetes and considering the complications as noted in my previous post, it is something that I’m very interested in. Help educate your friends if they have any of the following symptoms. Early detection can decrease complications.

Frequent urination

Excessive thirst

Extreme hunger

Unusual weight loss

Increased fatigue

Irritability

Blurry vision

Some people prefer to stay on diabetes medication to control their blood sugar level, but most prefer to do it naturally through diet and lifestyle changes. If you’re interested in lowering your blood sugar naturally, read about how GluCare helps you maintain a healthy blood sugar level.





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Filed under: Diabetes • Network Marketing • Senior Health

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