Diabetes An Introduction
Why Nutrition Is So Vital For Diabetics
Information About Diabetes Medicines
Gestational Diabetes
The Connection Between Diabetes, Heart Disease And Stroke
Physical Activity And Diabetes
Symptoms Of Diabetes
Alternative Devices For Taking Insulin
Diabetes Supplies
Guidelines For A Healthy Gestational Diabetes Diet
Complications Of Diabetes
Facts About Diabetes And Diet
Low Carb Diabetic Diets
Diabetes And Your Body
The Types Of Diabetes
Taking Care Of Your Diabetes At Special Times
4 Steps To Control Diabetes For Life
Am I At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes
Information about Diabetes Medicines
What do diabetes medicines do?
Over time, high levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can can cause health problems. These problems include heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, nerve damage, digestive problems, eye disease, and tooth and gum problems. You can help prevent health problems by keeping your blood glucose levels on target.
Everyone with diabetes needs to choose foods wisely and be physically active. If you can’t reach your target blood glucose levels with wise food choices and physical activity, you may need diabetes medicines. The kind of medicine you take depends on your type of diabetes, your schedule, and your other health conditions.
You may need diabetes medicines to reach your blood glucose targets.
Diabetes medicines help keep your blood glucose in your target range. The target range is suggested by diabetes experts and your doctor or diabetes educator. See below for more information about target levels for good health.
What targets are recommended for blood glucose levels?
The National Diabetes Education Program uses blood glucose targets set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for most people with diabetes. To learn your daily blood glucose numbers, you’ll check your blood glucose levels on your own using a blood glucose meter.
| Target blood glucose levels for most people with diabetes | My targets | |
|---|---|---|
| Before meals | 70 to 130 mg/dL | |
| 1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal | Less than 180 mg/dL | |
* Milligrams per deciliter.
Also, you should ask your doctor for a blood test called the A1C at least twice a year. The A1C will give you your average blood glucose for the past 3 months.
| Target A1C result for people with diabetes | My targets |
|---|---|
| Less than 7 percent |