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Blood Sugar Control in Few Weeks Allaine Mark

The first year after diagnosis is a crucial time for patients with Type 2 diabetes. While it's always important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, new research shows that better control during the first year can reduce the future risk for complications, including kidney disease, eye disease, stroke, heart failure and poor circulation to the limbs. A new study, led by Neda Laiteerapong, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, analyzed health records of more than 34,000 patients to review their hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) values in the years after their initial diagnosis. A1C is a common measure of blood sugar control; the lower the HbA1C value, the better. (National medical organizations typically say an HbA1C between 6.5 and 7 percent is a healthy target for most diabetics.)