Diabetes: Knowing Your Numbers is Key to Good Health
Courtney Carter
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

Diabetes: Knowing Your Numbers is Key to Good Health

Managing diabetes can sometimes feel overwhelming. But, by keeping tabs on 6 key numbers and adjusting your lifestyle as needed, you can take control of your diabetes and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.  

Here's a look at essential numbers you should know and monitor.

Blood Glucose Levels

Blood glucose monitoring is the cornerstone of diabetes management. There are two primary ways to measure your blood glucose:

1. Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG)

This involves checking your blood sugar at home using a glucose meter. The frequency of testing depends on your individual needs and your doctor's recommendations. Generally, you should aim for the following targets:

  • Before meals: 80-130 mg/dL

  • Two hours after meals: Less than 180 mg/dL

2. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C)

This test provides an average of your blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. It's typically measured every 3-6 months.

  • Target A1C: Less than 7% for most adults with diabetes

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, which are common complications of diabetes.

  • Target blood pressure: Below 140/90 mmHg

Cholesterol Levels

Managing cholesterol is crucial for reducing cardiovascular risk. You should know your:

  • LDL (bad) cholesterol

    • Target LDL: Below 100 mg/dL

  • HDL (good) cholesterol

    • Target HDL: Above 40 mg/dL for men, above 50 mg/dL for women

  • Triglycerides

    • Target Triglycerides: Below 150 mg/dL

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for diabetes management. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

  • Target BMI: Between 18.5 and 24.9

Waist Circumference

Excess abdominal fat is associated with insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular risk.

  • Target waist circumference:

    • Men: Less than 40 inches

    • Women: Less than 35 inches

Kidney Function

Diabetes can affect kidney function over time. Your doctor may monitor your:

  • Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)

    • Target eGFR: Above 60 mL/min/1.73 m²

  • Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (UACR)

    • Target UACR: Below 30 mg/g

Yes, that’s a lot of numbers to track. Fortunately, there are several tools and things you can do make it easier to stay on top of it all. For example:

  1. Use a diabetes management app to log your numbers and track trends over time.

  2. If you prefer pen and paper, keep a physical logbook.

  3. Set reminders for regular testing and doctor's appointments.

The Vermont Department of Health offers this handy guide for keeping track of when and how often different labs and office visits should be scheduled.

  1. Learn to interpret your numbers and understand how lifestyle factors affect them. If you have questions, reach out to a certified diabetes educator for help.

By consistently monitoring your key metrics and sharing them with your healthcare provider during your visits, you can take an active role in your diabetes management.  

 

Paula Haytko, RN, is a certified diabetes educator with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

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The Latest Testing Information

The world of COVID-19 testing is very complex and changing rapidly. But gratefully, unlike early on in the pandemic, tests are available for everyone who wants one, whether they have symptoms or not. Below is a list of common questions, along with answers from SVMC’s Laboratory Services Director Karen Bond and SVMC’s Director of Perioperative Services Tanya Cowder, MSN, RN, CNOR.

What are the reasons someone may get tested for COVID-19, even if they don't have symptoms? People without symptoms of COVID-19 are being tested when they are admitted to SVMC, before being discharged to other facilities, before scheduled surgeries, or because they may have been exposed to the virus. Primary care providers are also able to order a test for those who need to return to work or school or to end quarantine or isolation. And anyone can be tested through the Vermont Department of Health's Pop-Up Clinics.

What types of tests are available for detecting active cases of COVID-19? SVMC offers Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing that is processed at both outside labs and our own lab, depending on how quickly results are needed. PCR, which was pioneered by American biochemist Kary Mullis in 1983, actually amplifies and detects the presence or absence of small gene sections. In this case, it determines whether or not COVID-19 is present.

The specimen is most often taken from deep in the nose-throat passageway (nasalpharyngeal). Patients experience eye watering and a burning sensation for 30 seconds or less. The test can also be taken from inside the nose (anterior nares), depending on the patient population. The most common type of test, like those administered both at SVMC’s drive-up testing station and at the Vermont Department of Health’s Pop-Up Clinics, is greater than 90% sensitive (meaning that the test picks up the virus, if it is present) and greater than 90% specific (meaning the test detects the COVID-19 virus, as opposed to other viruses).

How do I get my results and what should I do? Results are usually provided by a primary care provider within 48 hours. Your primary care provider will share specific directions regarding what you should do next. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sharing this table, which provides a synopsis of tests, what results mean, and guidance for what to do. If the test is positive, the Vermont Department of Health may call before the primary care provider to initiate contact tracing.

Are all of the tests sufficiently available? Yes. Anyone with an order from their primary care provider can be tested at the drive-up testing site at SVMC. Anyone can be tested at the Vermont Department of Health's Pop-Up Clinics. Visit https://humanresources.vermont.gov/popups for times, dates, and locations. Tests for inpatients at the hospital are also in adequate supply.

Important Note: Remember test results offer a snap shot of the current active viral load. A negative test result doesn’t reveal whether you have been exposed in the past or predict whether you will be infected in the future. Whether or not the result is positive, we should all continue to wash our hands frequently, wear masks when in public and in proximity to those outside of our household, and stay 6 feet from others.

What about antibody tests? Antibody tests (serology) are also available. It does not tell you if you have active disease. Antibody tests check for antibodies that appear in the blood between about 1 – 3 weeks after symptom onset and may remain as long as a lifetime. Antibody tests may be positive while a person is infected. It is not yet known whether these antibodies protect against reinfection with the COVID-19 virus. For many other similar viruses, antibodies are protective for years or longer, but we do not yet have adequate data to know for COVID-19. Patients who would like the test would get a referral from their primary care provider and come to the SVMC Lab to have blood drawn. Results are delivered by the primary care provider.

Those who receive a positive antibody test or who have recovered from COVID-19 may qualify to donate plasma with the American Red Cross. The plasma, which includes antibodies, may help those fighting the disease. Learn more at https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-patients.html.

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