About P.A.D.: Diabetes and P.A.D.: Management
Management:
What steps can I take to control my diabetes and P.A.D.?
The good news is you can take steps to prevent damage to your blood vessels and cut your chances of having a heart attack, stroke or losing a leg by taking care of your blood glucose (sugar) and your other heart disease risk factors. We call these the ABCs of Diabetes.
A is for the A1C test that measures your average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months.
B is for your blood pressure.
C is for your cholesterol.
Ask your health care team what your ABC numbers are and work together to develop a plan to reach your target goals. At every visit, ask what your numbers are and keep track of them. If you are not reaching your goals, work with your health care team to change your plan.
In most cases, these steps can help you manage the ABCs of diabetes and help lower your chances of having a heart attack, stroke or amputation:
- Follow a meal plan to make wise food choices.
- Include physical activity in your daily routine.
- Reach and stay at a healthy weight.
- Take prescribed medicines, if needed, to control your ABCs.
- Avoid smoking.
- Ask your health care team about taking antiplatelet medicines such as aspirin or clopidogrel to prevent blood clotting.
