Three numbers your GP wants you to know
If you remember nothing else from your GP appointments, remember these three. They tell you, and your doctor, whether your diabetes management is working.
1. HbA1c — your three-month average
HbA1c reflects your average blood sugar over the past 2–3 months, in mmol/mol.
- Below 41 — normal, no diabetes.
- 41–49 — pre-diabetes range.
- 50 or above — diagnostic for diabetes.
- Target if diabetic — usually below 53, set personally with your GP.
2. Blood pressure
Target for people with diabetes: under 130/80. Check at the pharmacy monthly, cut salt, and walk briskly 30 minutes most days.
3. LDL cholesterol
Target: under 1.8 mmol/L. Statins are funded by Pharmac and well-evidenced for diabetes.
What to ask at your next appointment
- “What was my last HbA1c, and what number are we aiming for?”
- “What does my blood pressure usually run at?”
- “What was my LDL?”
Write the answers down — the numbers only help if you can track them over time.