The ABCs of DiabetesA = A1C: A1C is a blood test that shows what your average blood sugar level has been during the last few months.

B = Blood Pressure: Controlling your blood pressure is just as important as controlling your blood sugar with diabetes. High blood pressure risks include: stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease.

C = Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood. High cholesterol contributes to strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disease.

Importance of ABCs: Keeping your ABCs under control can lower your risk of:

Having a heart attack or stroke Having a heart attack at a younger age Getting kidney disease

Importance of Low Blood Sugar: Keeping your blood sugar low can prevent certain diabetes caused problems such as:

Eye disease that lead to vision loss or blindness Kidney disease Nerve damage (neuropathy) which can cause numbness or pain in hands and feet The removal of toes, fingers, or other body parts removed by surgery (amputated)

ABC Levels: The levels you should aim for will depend on the severity of your diabetes, your age, and other health problems you may have. Many people aim for ABC levels of:

A1C: below 7 percent Blood Pressure: below 140/90, or lower in some cases LDL Cholesterol (one type of cholesterol, often called “bad cholesterol”): below

100

Controlling your ABCs:

Medicines: Most people take medicine every day to control their blood sugar. They also might need to check their blood sugar every day.

Lifestyle changes: The choices you make every day about the foods you eat and the way you live can have a huge impact on your ABCs. Some lifestyle choices you can make to maintain you ABCs include:

o Making healthy food choices: Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Limit the amount of meat and fried or fatty foods that you eat.

o Be active: Walk, garden, or do something active for 30 minutes on most days of the week.

o Stop smoking: Smoking increases your chances of heart attack or stroke, or developing cancer.

o Lose weight: Being overweight increases the risk of many health

problems. o Avoid alcohol: Alcohol can increase blood sugar and blood pressure.

Luckily, many of these lifestyle changes listed above can improve all 3 of the ABCs. The table below illustrates how these lifestyle changes impact your ABCs.

What You Can Do Helps with A1C

Helps with Blood Pressure

Helps with Cholesterol

Taking medicines everydayX X X

Eating a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, but rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products

X X X

Limit the amount of salt (sodium) you eatX

Be activeX X X

Lose weight if you are overweightX X X

Avoid alcoholX X