Name
Date
Diabetes Complications Risk Profile
A1C: ______ %
UMHS normal range 4-6.5%
My goal is:__
%
A1C is your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. When
your blood sugar is close to normal, you are likely to have more energy and think
more clearly than when your blood sugar is high. This number also tells you about
your risk for complications from diabetes. Keeping your A1C closer to normal
reduces your risks for long-term damage to your eyes, kidneys and nerves.
To help lower your blood sugar you can:
 eat smaller portions
 eat smaller portions more often throughout
the day
 eat fewer sweets
 maintain a reasonable weight
 exercise more
 take medicine (diabetes pills or insulin)
 take a different dose of medicine
 take a combination of medicines (diabetes
pills or insulin)
 add or adjust insulin dose, timing or shots per
day
©University of Michigan 2004.
Name:
©University of Michigan 2004.
Name:
Blood Pressure:
mm/Hg
Ideal: less than 130/80
My goal is:
A blood pressure reading has two numbers. The first number is called systolic
blood pressure. This is the amount of pressure against the blood vessel walls when
your heart pumps. The second number is called diastolic blood pressure. This is
the amount of pressure against the blood vessel walls when your heart relaxes, as
it does between heart beats.
In general, high blood pressure means that the systolic blood pressure, diastolic
blood pressure, or both may be too high. For people with diabetes, high blood
pressure is 130/80 or higher. High blood pressure increases your risk for strokes,
heart attacks, kidney damage and eye disease.
To lower your blood pressure you can:
 eat less salt
 stop smoking
 take blood pressure medicine
 change dose or type of blood pressure
medicine
 exercise more
 limit alcohol to less than two drinks per day
 maintain reasonable weight
 Other ______________________________
______________________________
©University of Michigan 2004.
Name:
Cholesterol:
Normal: 199 mg/dl or below
My goal is:
A waxy, fat-type substance in your blood. Your body makes some cholesterol
from saturated fats and it is also present in certain foods. There are different kinds
of cholesterol. High cholesterol adds to your risk for heart and blood vessel
disease.
To lower your cholesterol you can:
 eat less saturated (hard) and trans fats and
cholesterol containing foods like butter,
bacon, shortening
 maintain a reasonable weight
 eat skinless, lean meats
 exercise more
 take medicine to lower cholesterol
 eat more soluble fiber- like dark, green leafy
vegetables and whole grain cereals
 use margarines and dressings with plant
stanols/sterols added
Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL): Your level
Normal: 99 mg/dl or less
LDL is the bad or lousy kind of cholesterol that deposits fat in your blood vessels.
High LDL adds to your risk for heart and blood vessel disease.
With multiple risk factors that include cardiovascular disease, consistently high
blood pressure, obesity, smoking, high triglycerides, or low HDL in addition to
diabetes the goal would be 70 mg/dl
©University of Michigan 2004.
Name:
To lower your LDL you can:
 eat less saturated (hard) and trans fats and
cholesterol
 use monounsaturated oils instead of saturated
(hard) fats
©University of Michigan 2004.
Name:
High Density Lipoproteins (HDL): Your level
Normal: 45 mg/dl or higher for men
55 mg/dl or higher for women
HDL is the good or healthy cholesterol that removes fat deposits from your blood
vessels. A high HDL helps to protect you against heart and blood vessel disease.
Some ways to improve your HDL:
 exercise more
 lower triglycerides
 use monounsaturated (liquid) oils in place of
saturated (hard) fats
 eat more baked or broiled cold-water fish
Triglycerides: Your level
Normal: 149 mg/dl or less
Another kind of fat carried in the blood stream that is linked to high blood sugars.
High triglycerides may contribute to heart and blood vessel disease.
Some ways to lower your triglycerides:
 lower your blood sugar
 eat fewer sweets
 drink less sweet liquids (including
unsweetened fruit juice)
 drink less alcohol
 eat more broiled or baked cold-water fish
©University of Michigan 2004.
Name:
Smoking: Amount you smoke
No smoking is ideal. Smoking increases your risk for heart, blood vessel and
kidney disease.
Some ways to cut back and quit smoking are:
 attend stop-smoking classes
 use nicotine patches, lozenges or gum
 take anti-smoking medicine
 smoke less often
Body Mass Index (BMI):
Height:
inches Weight:
shoes)
Your BMI is _________
Target: 18.5-24.9 My goal is:
pounds (lightly clothed, without
Body Mass Index tells you if your weight is in a healthy range. It is based on your
height and weight. Losing even small of amounts of weight can lower your blood
sugar and blood pressure, and reduce your risk for joint problems and heart
disease.
To lose weight you can:
 eat smaller portions
 eat smaller portions more often throughout
the day
 eat less fat
 exercise more
 drink less alcohol
 Other ______________________________
______________________________
©University of Michigan 2004.
Name:
©University of Michigan 2004.