Diabetes
Reducing Complications
Diabetes can affect almost every part of the body. However the good news is that diabetes complications can be
prevented. Diabetes care is more than just blood sugar control. By knowing your ABC's one can help prevent these
complications:
- A is for Hemoglobin A1C. This is the average blood sugar for the past 12 weeks.
- B is for Blood Pressure. Keeping your blood pressure under control helps prevent eye, kidney, and heart problems.
- C is for Cholesterol. Maintaining good cholesterol helps prevent heart disease and stroke.
Find out more about the ABC’s of diabetes care.
Diabetes can lead to loss of
vision or even blindness. Take care of your eyes by:
- Keeping blood pressure and blood sugar under control.
- Getting a dilated eye exam by an eye doctor each year.
- Contacting your doctor if you notice problems.
People with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to have heart disease than people without diabetes. Keep a healthy
heart by:
- Keeping blood pressure and blood sugar under control.
- Not smoking.
- Becoming more physically active.
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. Help prevent kidney problems by:
- Keeping blood sugar and blood pressure under control.
- Not smoking.
- Eating less protein.
- Asking about medications.
Sometimes people with diabetes lose sensation in their feet and cannot feel pain. Keep your feet healthy by:
- Checking your feet every day for sores, blisters or rashes.
- Keeping blood sugar under control.
- Not smoking.
- Having your doctor check your feet at every visit.
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