More than 38 million Americans (about one in 10) have diabetes, with the vast majority being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through diet and lifestyle changes and making the effort is well worth it because having type 2 diabetes increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and dementia.
If you are at risk for diabetes, it can be helpful to track your glucose numbers. Here, endocrinologists explain why this can be beneficial and the exact glucose numbers to aim for.
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Who Should Track Their Glucose Numbers?
If you aren’t sure whether or not you are at high risk for getting diabetes, your healthcare provider can screen you, by asking about your family history, other contributing factors and measuring your blood sugar levels. “American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends screening for all adults above age 35 for diabetes and individuals with a personal or family history of prediabetes, diabetes, gestational diabetes and obesity,” says Dr. Chhaya Makhija, MD, DipABLM, an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes.
Dr. Makhija says that when it comes to diabetes, there are risk factors you can’t control (like genetics) as well as risk factors you can (such as having a diet high in sugar and living a sedentary lifestyle). “From my experience, I have seen younger and younger individuals getting diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and the youngest I am aware of is a 12-year-old child,” Dr. Makhija says, adding that this is a stark change to the past when it was primarily diagnosed in people older than 60. “Recognizing your risk factors and starting to screen early on gives a chance to reverse, treat and prevent complications,” she says.
Dr. Akhil Shenoy, MD, an endocrinologist and medical advisor at Aeroflow Diabetes, says that individuals who are at high risk for getting type 2 diabetes can benefit from working with an endocrinologist to lower their risk through what they can control. Dr. Shenoy explains that endocrinologists can establish glucose goals (blood sugar targets) and explain why fluctuations in glucose occur.
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It’s possible to monitor glucose numbers at home to see if you’re meeting your goals. That being said, Dr. Shenoy doesn’t recommend monitoring your glucose numbers unless you’re working with an endocrinologist because it could cause unnecessary anxiety. But if you are working with an endocrinologist, monitoring your glucose can be helpful.
Dr. Makhija explains that glucose is monitored by using a continuous glucose monitor sensor. “These devices and tools help patients as well as their physicians or healthcare team to learn real-time changes in glucose levels and make proactive changes to their treatment plan or dietary changes in real-time rather than waiting for a blood test called Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) every four months,” she says, adding that she encourages her patients with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes to use them.
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The Ideal Glucose Numbers to Aim For
Of course, having a continuous glucose monitor is only helpful if you have a glucose goal. What glucose numbers should you aim for? Dr. Makhija explains that, normally, blood glucose hovers between 60 to less than 100 between meals. After eating, she says the blood sugar should be less than 120 and should be 140 one to two hours after eating.
“The more insulin-sensitive an individual is, the better blood sugar averages are seen. If someone has type 2 diabetes and is aiming for good control, then goals are usually individualized based on the status of their disease and complications. Most of the time, a fasting goal of less than 120 in patients with type 2 diabetes and two-hour post-meal blood glucose close to 140s would be ideal,” Dr. Makhija says. Dr. Shenoy adds to this, saying that maintaining fasting blood sugars below 126 through lifestyle changes is a good starting point to avoid type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Makhija adds that for people with type 2 diabetes, there are also hemoglobin A1c targets to aim for. “For a healthy adult, it would be less than 7%,” she says.
Need help reaching your glucose targets? Both doctors say that eating high-fiber foods can help. That means vegetables, chickpeas, beans and lentils are all great foods to integrate into your meals. If you want a specific eating plan to follow, Dr. Shenoy recommends either the DASH diet or the Mediterranean diet, both of which emphasize eating lots of plant-based foods.
Both doctors also say that exercising regularly is another way to help meet your glucose goals. One key way to reach your glucose goals that many forget is drinking enough water. “Hydration with water is key. Prioritize water rather than other beverages when you’re thirsty,” Dr. Makhija says.
Remember, a continuous glucose monitor is just a tool. If you find yourself obsessing over the numbers, it can be helpful to focus on maintaining healthy habits to the best of your ability and leaving the number reading to your doctor.
Type 2 diabetes is preventable and it’s also reversible. By changing your habits, you can change your diagnosis.
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