Do you know your ABC’s?

Do you know your ABC’s?

 

A is for A1C: a blood test that measures your blood sugar or blood glucose levels over the last 2-3 months. It is a percentage which ranges from 4-12. High A1C can put you at risk for future health problems including diabetes.

B is for Blood Pressure: As your heart pumps blood through your body, pressure is applied to the inside walls of your blood vessels. If you have high blood pressure, your heart is working harder than it should and you maybe be at risk for stroke, heart attack, and even kidney disease.

C is for Cholesterol: a form of fat that can build up in your blood. There are three parts to cholesterol that can be measured – low density lipoproteins or LDL, high density lipoproteins or HDL, and triglycerides. It’s important to keep your LDL or bad cholesterol and triglycerides lower because they can pose a risk to your health. HDL or good cholesterol helps to remove excess cholesterol from building up in your arteries which can put you at greater risk for heart attack and stroke.

 

It’s important to know your ABC’s, it can help lower your risk for diabetes, or help you successfully manage diabetes if you already have it.

-American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE)