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Each year more than 2,300 Mississipians die from diabetes. Another 1,900 develop complications related to their diabetes such as kidney failure, blindness or lower extremity amputations. Many others are at risk for Cardiovascular Vascular Disease because of their diabetes. African Americans are at particular risk for these complications. The good news is that most of these complications can be prevented if the diabetic patient recieves proper care and the blood sugar level is controlled. One very important blood test that your doctor or clinic can do tells just how well your blood sugar is controlled. It is different from the test you do at home. It is called Hemaglobin A1c and should only be performed by your doctor or clinic. The following is an example of just how important this test can be in helping to prevent the complications mentioned above. For instance, if you have diabetes and your Hemaglobin A1c runs consistantly at 10% over your lifetime you have a 19% chance of going blind, a 17% chance of losing your kidneys and a 15% chance of losing a foot or a leg. Whereas if the same test runs consistantly at 7.2% your chances for blindness is 5%, for kidney failure is 2% and losing a lower limb is 5%. So it is very important to be sure that your doctor or clinic is performing this test at least twice a year.
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