Diabetics Know Your ABC
Target Levels
All diabetics should
know they need to control their sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol
levels to reduce the risk of complications such as heart, kidney and eye
disease.
All diabetics should know and learn their current and their
target (the level to aim for) levels of the following markers of
control.
A is for Haemoglobin A1c
(HbA1c)
This measures the level of sugar control over the
twelve weeks before the blood sample is taken. Treatment aims to lower
your HbA1c to below a target level, which is usually agreed between you
and your Doctor. The target level is usually somewhere between 6.5% and
7.5% (in pregnancy it is 6 to 6.5%). It should be measured twice a year
and more often in certain patient groups, eg pregnant
diabetics.
HbA1c 12.0% corresponds to an average plasma glucose of
19.5 mmol/l.
HbA1c 11.0% corresponds to an average plasma glucose of
17.5 mmol/l.
HbA1c 10.0% corresponds to an average plasma glucose of
15.5 mmol/l.
HbA1c 9.0% corresponds to an average plasma glucose of
13.5 mmol/l.
HbA1c 8.0% corresponds to an average plasma glucose of
11.5 mmol/l.
HbA1c 7.0% corresponds to an average plasma glucose of
9.5 mmol/l.
HbA1c 6.0% corresponds to an average plasma glucose of
7.5 mmol/l.
HbA1c 5.0% corresponds to an average plasma glucose of
5.5 mmol/l.
The HbA1c in people without diabetes is 6.5% or
less.
B is for Blood
Pressure
The usual target is to reduce blood pressure to
140/80 mmHg or below. Some experts advise the target should be even
lower at 130/80 mmHg or below. Your own Doctor or Nurse will advise on
what target you should aim for. It should be measured at least once a
year and more often if you are on tablets or if the level is
rising.
C is for
Cholesterol
The target level for total cholesterol is
below 5.0. When cholesterol is measured as well as total cholesterol,
HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels are also measured. Cholesterol
blood tests in diabetics need to be done at least once a year and more
often if treatment in the form of tablets and diet has just started. Do
you know what your last levels were? If not next time you see your
Diabetic Nurse or Doctor ask. To get all these measures on target will
involve a mixture of diet, exercise, tablets and sometimes Insulin
injections.
To learn more about diabetes please consider
becoming a member of Diabetes UK - Contact by Tel: 0800 371 455 or
Website Diabetes UK
Cervical Smear and Colposcopy
Service
To improve the Healthcare
Services the Colposcopy Department has introduced a ‘Direct Referral to
Colposcopy Service’. Patients needing further investigation following a
smear test will be referred directly from the Laboratory to the
Colposcopy Team without going through their GP.
The results of your
smear test may indicate that you need further investigations or
treatment at Colchester General Hospital. If this is the case the
Hospital will contact you and invite you to make an appointment at the
Colposcopy Clinic. Initial contact will usually be made 6-10 weeks after
your smear test and can be made either by text message, by email or by
post, whichever is most convenient for you.
You can be contacted
instantly by text message or by email. This will give you the chance to
arrange your appointment at the earliest opportunity and could reduce
your waiting time for an appointment. If you would like to be contacted
using these methods, you will receive the following short
message:
Dear Miss/Ms X
The results of your recent tests
are now available. Please contact the Colposcopy Department on 01206
742480 to arrange a mutually convenient appointment.
Yours
sincerely
Colposcopy Co-ordinator
No medical information
will be included in the text or email. Subsequent communication, which
may include medical details will be issued by post. If you choose to be
contacted by email or by text and you want the details to remain
confidential, it is your responsibility to ensure that your text message
or email cannot be read by anyone else.
Alternatively, you may choose
to be contacted by post.
Please inform the smear taker of your
preferred method for initial contact.
Patients will be informed of
all other smear results by post.
COPE (Community Organisation for Problem Eating) -
formerly EDIS
COPE is a voluntary
Organisation set up to offer help and support to people in the Community
suffering from eating disorders. It is a free Service and provides
counselling on a daily basis and a Drop-In Service once a week at
Colchester Cornerstone. The Service is designed to assist people in
their recovery and enable them to manage their lives, and the ups and
downs it may bring by helping them establish a clearer sense of who they
are and the choices they may have. COPE also encourages input from the
people who use it so that it too can continue to develop and grow. You
may self-refer to this Service. Future Services include Drama Therapy,
Self-esteem Group, Carers Group and Complimentary
Therapies.
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 09.30 am to
5.30 pm (For Admin and Counselling)
Drop-in (Fridays only) from 11.00
am to 1.00 pm at Colchester Cornerstone, 5-7 Sir Isaacs Walk,
Colchester
Contact Details
COPE Ltd
Admin and
Counselling
45-46 East Stockwell Street
Colchester
CO1
1SR
Tel: 01206 710825/07980565684 (the answerphone may be switched
off at certain times for counselling purposes)
Website Colchester COPE
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