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Diabetes complications
Developing complications from diabetes is not inevitable. The nationwide Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, completed in the mid-1990s, showed conclusively that people with type 1 diabetes could reduce their risk of complications by as much as 50 percent if they kept their blood glucose level as close to normal as possible. The recent United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study found similar results for people with type 2 diabetes.
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What's the target for blood glucose control in someone with diabetes? The hemoglobin A1C test gives a view of your blood glucose levels over a longer time period than the snapshot you get when you check your blood glucose. Your healthcare provider will let you know what your target A1C number is. For most people, the target is below seven. During the two to three months that the A1C measures, you may have had some very high blood glucose levels and some very low levels which you needed to treat at the time or make adjustments for. But, overall, if your A1C is in your target range, then your treatment plan is probably working.
The A1C test is an average of your blood glucose levels, so frequent fluctuations between too high and too low can result in a misleading reading. Therefore, it's also important that you routinely measure your blood glucose levels at home. In general, plasma blood glucose results that are over 180 mg/dl two hours after eating or above 140 mg/dl before eating are considered high. If your blood glucose remains high for three days or more, an adjustment in your treatment plan may be required to prevent complications.
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