If you have diabetes, your risk of having a heart attack or stroke is two to four times higher compared to people who don't have diabetes. In fact, 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.
Allina Medical Clinic is helping patients with diabetes achieve five care goals that can lessen their heart disease risks:
Stay or become tobacco-free. Adding smoking
to diabetes more than doubles your risk of illness and death
from heart disease, stroke and poor circulation.
Take aspirin daily. One aspirin a day
helps prevent blood clots that can block the flow of blood
and lead to heart attack or stroke. Before you start taking
aspirin, be sure to ask your doctor if it is safe for you.
Have an A1c level of less than 7 percent. To
have a hemoglobin A1c - or average blood glucose level -
of less than 7%, you need to work with your health care
team to be sure you're taking the right kind and amount
of medicine or insulin.
Have a blood pressure rate of less than 130/80.
Two or more medicines are often needed to control blood
pressure. If you have high
blood pressure, you may not notice it until you have
a heart attack or stroke. So it is important to have your
blood pressure checked regularly.
Have an LDL cholesterol level of less than 100.
Your doctor may have you take statins to keep your blood’s
LDL (low-density lipoprotein or “bad”) level
below 100. This will further reduce your risk of heart disease.
What to expect at your next clinic visit
When the five diabetes care goals become part of your care plan,
you may notice some changes at your next doctor's appointment.
Same-day lab results - The results of
hemoglobin
A1c tests will be ready during your appointment, not
sent to you afterward. This will help you and your doctor
determine right away if any changes should be made to your
care plan.
Follow-up appointments - You’ll
be asked to schedule your next appointment before you leave
the clinic, much like what happens at the dentist’s
office or beauty salon.
More regular clinic visits - Your doctor
may limit your prescription refills to 6 months or less
to make sure that you have at least 2 clinic visits a year
for diabetes care. Monthly visits are often necessary to
get your risk factors under control as quickly as possible.
How is Allina doing?
Percent of patients with diabetes, ages 18 to 75 years, who have attained all five treatment goals
We report on how well Allina Medical Clinic is doing in helping patients achieve the five diabetes care goals to MN Community
Measurement, a nonprofit entity dedicated to improving the quality of health care in Minnesota.
Visit theD5.org to see how we compare to other Minnesota clinics in helping our patients achieve the five diabetes care goals.
Bridges To ExcellenceŽ
Bridges To Excellence is a not-for-profit organization that encourages physicians and clinics to deliver safer, more effective and efficient care.
Minnesota Bridges to Excellence recognized 13 Allina Medical Clinic locations for meeting the 2008 criteria for excellence in optimal care of patients with diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease.
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