Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Diabetes Under Control
What are diabetes problems?
Too much glucose (sugar) in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose (also called blood sugar) can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems.
Be active to prevent diabetes problems.
Will I have diabetes problems?
Maybe. You may have one or more diabetes problems or none at all. It is hard to know if or when your diabetes will cause problems. If you get diabetes when you are young, you may not have diabetes problems for many years. If you find out you have diabetes as an adult, you may already have diabetes problems. Either way, keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control can prevent diabetes problems.
What should my blood glucose numbers be?
Keeping your blood glucose on target will prevent or delay diabetes problems. For most people, target blood glucose levels are
Before meals 90 to 130
1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal Less than 180
Talk with your health care provider about what your blood glucose numbers should be. Print out this chart and record them.
Before meals
1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal Less than
You and your health care provider will agree on when you need to check your blood glucose using a blood glucose meter. You will do the checks yourself. Your health care provider can teach you how to use your meter.
Keep track of your blood glucose checks using the record page. Make copies yourself or ask your health care provider for a blood glucose record book. Your blood glucose check results will help you and your health care provider make a plan for keeping your blood glucose under control. Always bring your record book to your health care appointments so you can talk about reaching your glucose goals.
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