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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Six Questions with the Medical Director of SVMC Orthopedics

Dr. Michaela Schneiderbauer, medical director of orthopedics and orthopedic surgeon, answers six questions about getting orthopedic care right now.

1. What types of patients are you able to treat right now?

We are happy to see patients with all sorts of conditions returning to the practice for care. Patients have heard that the Governor has lifted restrictions for elective procedures, and they are ready to investigate their options for joint pain relief. Plus, the weather is getting nice again, so people are active outside. We've seen an increase in injuries related to outdoor activity, too.


2. Are you seeing patients remotely via telemedicine?

Yes. We offer telemedicine, and we use it a lot. Of course, there are limitations for those that need an X-ray or a physical exam. But telemedicine is a great option for initial visits when we need to collect patients' health history and for follow-ups.


3. How has care in the office changed over the past several months?

Patients will notice that we have gone beyond all of the Centers for Disease Control and Vermont Department of Health recommendations for office visits. All of our staff are wearing masks and shields or goggles, and patients are expected to wear a cloth face covering when they come in. In addition, we are making efforts to limit the number of people in our waiting rooms and office at any one time. For example, part of the check-in process now happens on the phone, instead of in person.


4. How is preparing for a surgery and recovering from a surgery different since COVID-19 became a concern?

Like for office visits, our pre-surgery processes have all been ramped up well beyond the state and national recommendations designed to decrease risk of contracting COVID-19. A few days before the surgery, we test patients for COVID-19 and ask them to self-quarantine until their procedure. The patient arrives to the hospital in their own cloth face covering. Visitors are limited. After the procedure, we provide patients with an app that allows them to note their temperature and any type of respiratory symptoms for a few weeks. If any of the information falls outside the norm, a nurse gives the patient a call. These are all examples of ways we are going beyond our very high infection-prevention standards to ensure safety for patients, their families, and our staff.


5. What would you like to share with people who postponed a joint replacement or other orthopedic care because of COVID-19?

Here in Vermont cases of COVID-19 cases have been relatively low. The Governor has given his approval by lifting restrictions for elective procedures, even those requiring an overnight hospital stay. SVMC started with an exceptionally low rate of hospital-acquired infections and added many extra precautions on top of that. We have the attitude that it is definitely safe to resume care both surgeries and other types of orthopedic care.


6. What are the greatest risks and rewards related to having orthopedic care now?

From our position as one of the safest hospitals in one of the safest states, the risks of contracting COVID-19 and other illnesses during a procedure or other care are very low. Many patients know this. They are coming in for their procedures and joint replacements. Many of them will recover and be active again in time to really enjoy this summer. That’s our goal: to help every patient resolve their orthopedic issues so that they can get back to doing the things they love.

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