When Diabetic: Targets for Glucose, Cholesterol, Triglycerides and Blood Pressure
The charts below show my personal targets as a type-2 diabetic.
As diabetics we face a lot of numbers, especially in our blood test results, both our self monitored and our clinical tests, and we need to know and understand them well enough to help guide us in managing our diabetic condition, to assess our progress in meeting objectives or perhaps to alert us on whether we need to adjust our daily routines to bring them into line.
For me, it is easy to see from my meter readings whether or not I am achieving suitable control on a day-to-day basis. But the clinical tests taken at intervals of every three or four months always cause some trepidation while I await the more extensive range of test results, those other than for just the glucose levels, especially since for cholesterol my levels are somewhat higher than they should be, so my doctor tells me, and also I am already taking prescription drugs to combat the early stages of kidney deterioration, a fairly common occurrence for those with a long-term diabetic condition.
My doctors take care of me, ordering the necessary blood tests to check for the various items that help determine my state of diabetic health and, depending on their interpretation of those results, prescribe and adjust my medication as needed, but they usually do not spend much time discussing those numbers that show up on the blood test report, and even if I am told, it is not possible to really comprehend their significance at the time anyway.
So, rather than “stay in the dark” as it were, I have made two charts to show the target values for which I should aim and which I keep close at hand for occasional reference and as a reminder to stay vigilant. In this way, I can compare the actual clinical blood test values with my target values to see how well I am doing. By the way, I have to ask the doctor for a copy of my results, in my experience it is not usually offered voluntarily and one of my doctors charges me $25 for a copy!
It is a hassle to have to monitor these readings but that is a situation I share with many of my fellow diabetics. I post my target charts here in case it may be of interest to other diabetes sufferers.
The following charts are target values for a type-2 diabetic, check out this link for Normal Blood Sugar Levels.
On the charts below, I show both of the commonly used units of blood measurement, the mg/dL (milligrams per decilitre) used in the United States, and also the units of measurement used outside the United States, the mmol/L, (millimols per litre).
Blood Glucose – Daily self monitoring target |
|||
| Fasting (before meals) |
1 to 2 Hours after meals |
Before bed |
|
| Mg/dL | 108 to 126 | Less than 180 | 110 to 150 |
| mmol/L | 6 to 7 | Less than 10 | 6 to 8 |
Targets for periodic 3 to 4 month clinical Blood Test Results |
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| Total Cholesterol |
LDL | HDL | Cholesterol to HDL Ratio |
Triglycerides | |
| Mg/dL | Less than 200 | Less than 100 | 40 to 60 | Less than 5:1 | Less than 150 |
| mmol/L | Less than 5.2 | Less than 2.6 | 1 to 1.5 | Less than 5:1 | Less than 1.7 |
Blood Pressure Target Maximums:
The target maximum for diabetic persons is 129/80, that is, 129 systolic over 80 diastolic, compared to 139/80 for non-diabetic persons.
Those are maximums, lower is better, a systolic of 120 would be good.
For an explanation of the units of measurement used in blood tests and how to convert them go here.
For a simple explanation of blood testing for diabetes go here.
If you are a diabetic you must be under the care of a physician
Your physician will diagnose and monitor your progress and will prescribe the appropriate medications if required. The doctor may also advise you on how you should direct your own personal efforts to help minimize and combat the diabetes and that may involve some life style changes. It is important to follow your physician’s advice. Optimally, your diabetes health care team would include a diabetes educator and a dietitian.
For a description of our purpose and objectives and who we are, What you need to know, Why we are here, Why this website? please go here: About Us.
Web addresses for government diabetes agencies can be found Here: National Diabetes Associations.
