Here’s what we suggest for Setting Your Standards High.

At Every Office Visit:

• Bring your blood sugar monitor with you so your provider can review your blood sugar numbers. The goal ranges are 80-120 mg/dl fasting or before meals and 80-140 mg/dl 2 hours after meals. If your blood sugar numbers are above goal range it may mean that you are eating too much carbohydrate, aren’t getting enough physical activity, or need your medication/insulin adjusted. Consider scheduling an appointment with a diabetes educator or the dietitian. You are giving yourself the best chance for good health by keeping your blood sugar near the normal range.
• Have your blood pressure checked. The goal range in diabetes is below 130/80 mmHg. If your blood pressure is high, your heart has to work harder. High blood pressure -- also called hypertension -- raises your risk for heart attack, stroke, eye problems, and kidney disease. As many as two out of three adults with diabetes have high blood pressure. Having your blood pressure checked regularly and taking action to reach your blood pressure target can prevent or delay diabetes problems.
• Remove your shoes and socks to remind your provider to check your feet. Early discovery and treatment of foot injuries or other problems can prevent serious complications.
• Have your weight checked. Losing weight and keeping it off is a real challenge for most people. Try recording everything you eat and drink in a notebook. Review the notebook and see where you can make a few changes. If you’re interested in following a weight-loss program check out the Weight Watchers At Home program we offer or make an appointment to see the dietitian. Losing weight and being active can often lower blood sugar levels. Every pound you lose, and keep off, is a very positive step.

At Least Every 3-6 Months:

• Have your Hemoglobin A-1-C checked. Hemoglobin A-1-C is your average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months. The goal range is under 6.5%.

At Least Once a Year:

• Get a flu shot and make sure your pneumonia vaccine is up to date. Uncontrolled diabetes can make the immune system more vulnerable to severe cases of "the flu" (influenza). Everybody with diabetes, of any age, should get this cheap and easy protection.
• Have a dilated eye exam by an eye specialist. This can prevent blindness from retinopathy. It is not sufficient for your provider to examine your eyes during an office visit.
  Have a dental exam and be sure to tell your dentist that you have diabetes. When blood sugar is high, gum and mouth infections are more common.
• Come in for a complete physical exam. When you have diabetes, it is important that you get good medical care. Good care helps you live a full life with as few complications as possible. The appointment should also include:
  • A foot risk assessment. Your provider is looking for peripheral neuropathy (diabetic nerve disease in the leg and foot) which causes decreased sensation and puts the foot at risk for undetected trauma. Most amputations from diabetes are preventable with appropriate care.
  • An EKG which checks on your heart status.
  • A urine sample to check your microalbumin. The test checks for small amounts of protein in the urine. This tells us how well your kidneys are working.
  • A blood draw to check cholesterol and triglycerides. High LDL cholesterol can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries. Some people call LDL "bad" cholesterol. You can remember LDL by thinking, L is for "Lousy." The higher the LDL level in your blood, the greater chance you have of getting heart disease. HDL are also known as "good" cholesterol (think, H is for "Healthy"). HDL helps remove cholesterol from your body, so the higher your HDL, the lower your chance for getting heart disease. Triglycerides are another kind of blood fat that raise your risk for heart attack and stroke.