Is Your Blood-sugar Range Really Safe?
- Date: 2009-08-05 - Word Count: 382
Share This!
More and more people are diagnosed with diabetes every day. The first thing they need and want is information. And one of the most important things they want to know is, what should my blood sugar range be?
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Complete Guide to Diabetes 3rd edition recommends "to keep blood glucose as close as possible to that of a person without diabetes" (page 153). We wholeheartedly agree with that. This should be the goal of every person with diabetes.
The ADA and other authorities recommend a range with an upper limit that is dangerously high. They recommend an A1C of 7% or under to "help avoid diabetes complications of the kidneys, eyes, feet, and nerves" (page 91).
(The A1C is a weighted average percentage of glycated hemoglobin, blood cells with glucose attached to them, over the past several months. It is a fair indicator of blood glucose levels over that time.)
Unfortunately, the recommended 7% is still too high. It is certainly not "as close as possible to that of a person without diabetes," which is about 5%.
Let's look at what an A1C of 7% represents in terms of everyday blood glucose levels. It indicates an average blood glucose level of 150 mg/dl (8.5 mmol/l). This average level may seem safe to the ADA, but studies by both the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) indicate that anything above 140 mg/dl (8 mmol/l) significantly raises the risk of heart attack.
A much safer maximum acceptable blood sugar level is not 150, according to the AACE and the IDF and other authorities, but 140 mg/dl. "Maximum" means the glucose level up to two hours after meals. And neither 150 nor 140 should be the constant or the average blood sugar level. The average blood glucose level should be much lower, between 90 and 100 mg/dl (5 and 5.5 mmol/l), considerably lower than the ADA's recommended 150 mg/dl.
If the average glucose level can be maintained between 90 and 100 mg/dl, it should result in an A1C test result of less than 6%. This single percentage point between an AIC of 7% and one of 6% can be the difference between a relatively healthy life with diabetes and one with high risk of complications, heart attack, and stroke.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Complete Guide to Diabetes 3rd edition recommends "to keep blood glucose as close as possible to that of a person without diabetes" (page 153). We wholeheartedly agree with that. This should be the goal of every person with diabetes.
The ADA and other authorities recommend a range with an upper limit that is dangerously high. They recommend an A1C of 7% or under to "help avoid diabetes complications of the kidneys, eyes, feet, and nerves" (page 91).
(The A1C is a weighted average percentage of glycated hemoglobin, blood cells with glucose attached to them, over the past several months. It is a fair indicator of blood glucose levels over that time.)
Unfortunately, the recommended 7% is still too high. It is certainly not "as close as possible to that of a person without diabetes," which is about 5%.
Let's look at what an A1C of 7% represents in terms of everyday blood glucose levels. It indicates an average blood glucose level of 150 mg/dl (8.5 mmol/l). This average level may seem safe to the ADA, but studies by both the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) indicate that anything above 140 mg/dl (8 mmol/l) significantly raises the risk of heart attack.
A much safer maximum acceptable blood sugar level is not 150, according to the AACE and the IDF and other authorities, but 140 mg/dl. "Maximum" means the glucose level up to two hours after meals. And neither 150 nor 140 should be the constant or the average blood sugar level. The average blood glucose level should be much lower, between 90 and 100 mg/dl (5 and 5.5 mmol/l), considerably lower than the ADA's recommended 150 mg/dl.
If the average glucose level can be maintained between 90 and 100 mg/dl, it should result in an A1C test result of less than 6%. This single percentage point between an AIC of 7% and one of 6% can be the difference between a relatively healthy life with diabetes and one with high risk of complications, heart attack, and stroke.
Related Tags: glucose, manage diabetes, diabetes control, diabetes test, blood glucose, glucose meter, blood sugar levels, glucose range, glucose levels, sugar blood level
Achieving and maintaining good glucose control, weight and blood pressure is not easy. Learn about a system to put it all together and manage your diabetes. Subscribe to my no-cost, no obligation 7-Day e-course at: www.RealHelpWithDiabetes.com/Jaye Marno is an internet writer specializing in goal-setting and time management with a focus on Type 2 diabetes. Read other articles by Jaye at: community.realhelpwithdiabetes.com/ Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- How To Reverse Insulin Resistance?
Insulin resistance is a health condition that the body is not able to respond to insulin. It will pr - Top Different Diabetes Symptoms You Ought To Know
Diabetes Mellitus is a serious condition wherein abnormality in insulin is taking place. It is wheth - The Best Diabetes Treatment
Diabetes happens when there is a high amount of sugar in the body. This occurs when the body has sto - How To Spot The Initial Symptons Of Diabetes
The amount of glucose in the blood is glycemia. The Glycemic Mark suggests which carbohydrates inclu - Get Moving! Prevent Diabetes By Engaging In Physical Activity
The more you keep your body moving, the better and longer you are likely to live. At least 150 minut - How To Successfully Avoid Getting Diabetes
Before panic gets in the way, those who are prone to diabetes should familiarize themselves with the - Ways In How You Can Help To Foil Diabetes
In lots of situations, diabetes is an inherited condition. Folks who have first level family with th - Who Needs To Know That You Have Diabetes?
It is important to let people know that you have diabetes, especially if you have type one diabetes - Maintaining Your Eyesight With Diabetes
Diabetes is a common disease and has important implications for the short-term and long-term health - Fasting Blood Glucose Level Test, Fasting Blood Sugar Test (fbs)
Fasting Blood Glucose Level Test, Fasting Blood Sugar Test (FBS) - both are synonymous terms referri
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How Original Limu Moui Can Help Treat Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes. Even the name sounds deadly. You would have to be a hermit not to know that mor - Help Children with Diabetes to Cope at School
Parents of children with diabetes should take the initiative and inform the school's principal and t - Diabetes Insipidus
What is Diabetes Insipidus?Unlike other types of diabetes such as Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Insipid - The Diabetic Food Pyramid
There is a Food Pyramid that was created especially for diabetics who need help managing their eatin - Diet for Gestational (Gestional) Diabetes
When a woman in her pregnant is having high blood sugar (glucose) then she has gestational diabetes. - diabetic neuropathy treatment
by rabortfor kind information<a href="http://www.drraomd.com/encyclopedia/disease/diabetes.h - Diabetes Type 1 in Children and Adults
What is Diabetes?Diabetes Mellitus (Sugar Diabetes) is a disease characterized by the body's inabili - 8 Commonly Heard Diabetes Mellitus Misconceptions
8 Commonly Heard Diabetes Mellitus Misconceptions As with most diseases there is a great deal of mis - Most Type II Diabetes is Preventable
Several recent studies show that most cases of Type II diabetes can be prevented with the diabetic - Avoid Diabetes Problems - Ensure Your Skin And Feet Are Kept Clean!
People with diabetes should take care of their skin and feet in order to avoid problems that can be
