Diabetes by the Numbers
When you are first diagnosed as a diabetic you will find that numbers suddenly rule your life. There are many numbers that become very important to you. There are numbers that you need to know that represent how well you are controlling your blood sugar. There are numbers that help you decide what you should eat, there is even a number that tells you which version of the disease you have.
The first number you will likely hear is the type of diabetes you are diagnosed with. Type 1 diabetes means that your body does not produce insulin on its own. This is very serious as the body needs insulin (a hormone) in order to convert the sugar (glucose) found in food into the energy needed for daily life.
Type 2 diabetes is generally diagnosed later on in life; however children can also develop this disease. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or does not use the insulin it is producing effectively.
One you have been told that you have diabetes; your doctor will start discussing your blood glucose numbers with you. If your fasting blood glucose is over 126, you are considered to be diabetic. Your doctor will likely have you repeat the test to get confirmation of this result.
If your fasting blood glucose measures between 110 and 126 then you are considered to have impaired glucose tolerance. In essence you are pre-diabetic, although this term is falling out of favor.
Since diabetes is not a disease that switches on and off however, you are not safe if you get a reading of 125. There are some doctors who believe that fasting blood glucose results consistently in the 90s indicate an early level of insulin resistance. So it is a good idea to look to some lifestyle changes at this point.
Another number you will frequently hear about is your A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c). This test indicates your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months, and can point illustrate how well your diabetes treatment plan is working.
Finally, you will want to learn about the GI (glycemic index) values of the foods you eat. GI is measured from zero to one hundred. The higher the number, the more quickly glucose moves into your bloodstream. As a diabetic, it is a good idea to keep to the lower GI numbers. For example, white bread has a higher GI (71) than whole grain bread (50).