By Martha Funnell, MS, RN, CDE

If you are reading this article, it is clear that you already know your ABCs. After all, learning your ABCs is the first step toward learning to read. Do you know your Diabetes ABCs? Just like the alphabet, your diabetes ABCs are an important first step in learning to care for your diabetes.

Each and every day you make many choices as you care for your diabetes. Sometimes it is hard to make those decisions or it feels overwhelming. Knowing your Diabetes ABC readings will give you the basic information you need to make wise choices. Once you decide what you want to do and how to get there, it gets easier to make the everyday decisions.

A1C tells you your average blood glucose level over the past two to three months. When your blood glucose is close to normal, you are likely to have more energy and think more clearly than when your blood glucose is high. It is a good overall measure of how well your diabetes is being managed. This number also tells you about your risk for complications from diabetes. Keeping your A1C as close as possible to your target level lowers your risks for long-term damage to your eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels. Since A1C is a measure of your blood glucose levels over time, the way to lower your A1C is to keep your blood glucosecloser to normal on a daily basis.

Blood pressure is expressed in two numbers, one “over” the other. The top number measures the amount of pressure on your blood vessel walls when your heart is pumping and the bottom number measures the pressure between beats. High blood pressure increases your risk for strokes, heart attacks, kidney damage and eye disease. High blood pressure can mean either the top number, bottom number or both are too high.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-type substance in your blood. Your body makes some cholesterol from saturated fats and it also is found in certain foods. High cholesterol adds to your risk for heart and blood vessel disease. There are three different kinds of cholesterol—sometimes known as “the good, the bad and the ugly”—the good cholesterol (HDL), the bad cholesterol (LDL) and the ugly (triglyceride).

The good cholesterol (HDL—H stands for Helpful or Healthy) protects you from heart and blood vessel disease and helps to get rid of some of the bad cholesterol. The higher your HDL reading, the better. To increase your HDL, you can:

• be more physically active.
• lower your triglycerides.
• use monounsaturated (liquid) oils in place of saturated (hard) fats.
• eat more baked or broiled coldwater fish.

The bad or lousy cholesterol (LDL) deposits fat in your blood vessels and puts you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. The lower your LDL reading, the better. To decrease your LDL, you can:

• eat less saturated (hard) and trans fats and cholesterol.
• use monounsaturated oils instead of saturated (hard) fats.

Triglycerides are another kind of fat that may raise your risk for heart attacks and strokes. High blood glucose levels and alcohol raise your triglyceride levels. To lower your triglyceride levels, you can:

• lower your blood glucose levels.
• eat fewer sweets.
• drink less sweet liquids (including unsweetened fruit juice).
• drink less alcohol.
• eat more broiled or baked cold-water fish.