St. Francis Hospital | Life & Health | Spring 2017

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&HEALTH w 7
Would you like more
information to help you
manage your diabetes?
Call 660-562-7966.
Use them
to help prevent
heart disease
CONTROLLING blood
sugar is an essential part of staying
healthy when you have diabetes. But
your blood sugar is not the only thing
that needs a watchful eye: Your blood
pressure and cholesterol levels do too.
The reason: Having diabetes
increases your risk for a heart attack
or stroke. You can lower that risk,
however, by following the ABCs of
diabetes management.
is for A1C. This test mea-
sures your average blood
glucose over the past two
to three months. For most people,
the American Diabetes Association
(ADA) recommends an A1C below
7 percent. Ask your doctor what your
goal should be. And always remember
this: An A1C test is not a substitute
for your daily blood sugar tests.
is for blood pressure. If
your blood pressure is
high, it means your heart
is working harder than it should
be. That’s unhealthy for your heart,
kidneys and eyes. For most people
with diabetes, the ADA recom-
mends a blood pressure level below
140/90 mmHg.
is for cholesterol. Your
cholesterol numbers reflect
the amount of fat in your
blood. LDL cholesterol is a bad type
of fat—it clogs arteries and raises
your risk for heart disease. You want
a low LDL level. On the other hand,
HDL cholesterol is a good type of
fat. You want a high HDL level,
which can actually help protect your
heart from disease.
Triglycerides also are a bad-
for-your-heart fat. You want a low
triglyceride level.
Additional source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases
B L O O D D O N A T I O N
It’s worth doing
If you’ve ever thought about giving blood,
don’t give it another thought—just do it!
Donating blood is quick, safe and
relatively painless. It’s also really impor-
tant. About 36,000 units of red blood cells
are needed in American hospitals and
emergency facilities every day. And just
one donation can help save the lives of up
to three people.
Among other things, the blood you
donate can be used to help someone
who’s:
w wUndergoing chemotherapy.
w wBeen injured in a car crash or a fire.
w wGetting an organ transplant.
w wHaving a baby.
w wHaving surgery.
Donated blood is often in short supply,
especially around the holidays and during
the summer. The good news is that you
can donate often—every eight weeks in
some cases.
To learn more about donating blood,
visit the American Red Cross web-
site, .