Monitoring Diabetes by the Numbers
May 11, 2009 by Stephen Almansen
Filed under Pregnancy and Diabetes
Once youve been diagnosed with diabetes numbers seem to take over your life. From the type of diabetes you have, type 1 or type 2, to your blood glucose results, to your A1C, numbers surround you and they mean something, but what exactly do all these numbers mean?
The first number you are likely to encounter is the type of diabetes you have. Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. With Type 1 diabetes the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar (glucose), starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.
Type 2 diabetes, which used to be known as adult-onset diabetes, occurs as the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells are unable to use the insulin effectively. Insulin is a hormone which is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy.
Upon a diagnosis of diabetes, you will hear a lot about your blood glucose numbers. Your doctor will have blood drawn for a fasting blood glucose test. If this number comes in over 126, you are diagnosed with diabetes. Usually, your doctor will run this test twice for a confirmation.
Fasting blood glucose results between 110 and 126 mean that you are above normal, but below the threshold for a diagnosis of diabetes. This used to be called impaired glucose tolerance and indicates some level of insulin resistance
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.
The next number your doctor will refer to is your glycated hemoglobin, HbA1C, also referred to as A1C. This test is important as it gives a good indication of your blood glucose levels over the last 3 months, and can help you to determine if your treatment plan is effective or needs to be modified.
Another important number to learn is the glycemic index (GI) value of foods. The glycemic index measures how quickly glucose is digested and moves into the bloodstream. Foods which are higher in fiber or less processed tend to have lower GI numbers, and are therefore more desirable to eat. For example, mashed potatoes have a higher GI (70) than sweet potatoes (54).
