The American Diabetes Association
says that normal blood
sugar for healthy people who do not have diabetes should be:
fasting/before eating blood sugar of less than 100 mg/dL [5.6 mmol/L], a bedtime blood sugar less than 120 mg/dL [6.7 mmol/L], and an
HbA1c
less than 6%.
How well you control diabetes is up to you. You can choose to take steps to modify your lifestyle to control blood sugar and minimize
complications. It comes down to setting goals, organization, planning, and following through with your plan. There are probably a few things
you are wondering about — such as exercise, diet, testing blood sugar, medications, and specialists, to name a few.
Start by speaking with your physician. Learn about your medications (if any):
how often, and when you should take them. Ask about an exercise
program. You will want to know
how much exercise and how often your doctor recommends for you
based on health concerns. Ask your doctor
about your blood pressure.
You will want to know if your blood pressure is high and the steps
to lower it if it is.
Ask to see a Registered Dietitian
and a diabetes nurse educator.
A diabetes nurse educator can help you with when and how
often you should be testing your blood sugar. He/she can also help you to set blood sugar goals. You will probably be asked to test blood sugar
when you first wake up and are fasted, before meals, after meals, and prior to bedtime. It is a good idea to keep a log of your blood sugar so that you can share these with your doctor.
A registered dietitian can help you design a meal plan based on your lifestyle, blood sugar targets and dietary
preferences. He/she can also help you learn how foods will affect
your blood sugar.
cc
Return to DQ&A main page
