DFU Manual - Episode 4 - Managing Diabetes

Welcome to Session 4 of the DFU Manual. The big idea is simple: control your blood sugar, and you protect your feet. High glucose is what quietly damages the nerves and vessels that keep your feet sensing, healing, and whole. This session translates that idea into the numbers to know and the daily habits that get you there. ### Your target numbers These are the targets your manual asks you to aim for. Bring them to every appointment. | Marker | Target | | --- | --- | | Fasting glucose | 80–130 mg/dL | | 2-hour post-meal glucose | Under 180 mg/dL | | HbA1c (3-month average) | At or below 7% | | Blood pressure | Under 130/80 | | LDL cholesterol | Under 100 | | Triglycerides | Under 150 | HbA1c is the single most important number on the page — it reflects your average sugar over three months, not just one moment. ### Six everyday tools to hit those numbers 1. Attend sessions. Education is one of your most powerful tools. Bring a family member so it sticks at home. 2. Eat well. Picture half the plate as vegetables and keep added sugar low. 3. Stay active. With your doctor's okay, routine movement helps your body actually use the glucose in your blood. 4. Take medication as prescribed. If cost is the reason you're skipping doses, tell your doctor — there are options. 5. Monitor at home. Keep a simple log of your readings and bring it to every visit. 6. Keep your appointments. Regular check-ups catch problems before you can feel them. ### Why this matters for your feet When sugar stays high over months and years, nerves lose feeling and vessels lose flow. An injury you never felt becomes a wound that won't heal on its own. Good control breaks that chain — it protects the nerves and vessels, and that's how it protects your feet. Learn more about diabetic foot care and ongoing patient engagement and education that supports this work between visits. Your move this week: pick one change. One walk a day. One vegetable added to each meal. One glucose check each morning. Small, steady changes are what keep feet healthy for years. Coming up next: deformities, calluses, and the early warning signs — meet Milagros, and learn why a callus is a warning you should never ignore.