Diabetes is a chronic disease with the potential to affect all organs and organ systems. Thorough patient education and understanding of the nature of the disease are critical factors to avoid or at least delay severe complications of the disease.
Cardiovascular disease is one of the major complications of diabetes. In fact, 65 per cent of diabetics die from heart disease or stroke.
The risk of cardiovascular disease can be controlled and reduced by considering the ABC of diabetes management.
ABC of diabetes management
A – HbA1c: This is a laboratory parameter that measures control of blood sugar over the past three months and is influenced by anti-diabetic medicine, diet and physical exercises. HbA1c should be kept below 7 per cent.
B – Blood pressure: The critical role of hypertension in the development of heart disease is commonly known. In diabetics this negative impact is
even enhanced. Blood pressure should be kept less than 140/80 mmHg.
C – Cholesterol: High levels of fats in the blood may cause narrowing of the blood vessels that feed your heart and brain. Please ask your doctor for the target values of cholesterol. Management of diabetes is complex and includes consequent medical treatment, attending regular consultations with your doctor and a thorough change of lifestyle.
Reducing the risks
- Take medicines as ordered by your doctor
- Attend follow-up visits as suggested by your doctor
- Improve your physical fitness
- Keep a healthy diet
- Control your weight
- Refrain from smoking
Having diabetes does not necessarily mean that you will develop heart disease. However, it is critical to be aware of the risk factors and learn to manage them.
Normally the body warns us of approaching complication by showing symptoms. This unfortunately is not the case for high blood glucose, high cholesterol or hypertension. Heart attack or stroke can be the consequence.
Access to care, complexities in treatment, gaps in clinical knowledge, coordination of care and patient education are the main obstacles to achieve optimal control of cardiovascular risk in diabetics. Join the Amber Diabetes Registry or Amber Diabetes Patient Education Programme. Its highly specialised interdisciplinary Diabetes Care Team will take care of you.
As Amber Clinics considers Diabetes Registry and Interactive Diabetes Education as a corporate social responsibility, attendance of both programmes are free of cost for everybody.
Amber Clinics
Al Rigga and International City
Al Noor Polyclinics
Deira and Al Satwa
Dr Joseph Polyclinic
Karama and Qusais
Please contact us if you have questions.
email: care@amberclinics.com
mobile phone: 050 153 0873
