November 1, 2004 - National Diabetes Awareness Month:
APHCV Aims to Reduce Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke among AAPIs Living with Diabetes
LOS ANGELES – Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc. has joined with the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to urge people with diabetes to manage blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar—an approach that will help prevent heart attack and stroke—the leading killers of people with diabetes.
The groups are joining forces to inform Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders that good diabetes management is more than lowering blood glucose. Managing blood pressure and cholesterol is also crucial. Recent studies indicate a strong link between diabetes and heart disease.
Diabetes is a serious chronic condition affecting an estimated 16 million Americans. The disease is the fifth leading cause of death for AAPIs between the ages of 45 and 64, and the leading cause of adult blindness, end-stage kidney disease and lower limb amputations.
Asian Pacific Health Care Venture (APHCV) is a nonprofit community health center that offers primary health care services, including routine check ups, diabetes screenings, senior-friendly health services and discounted rates for medications. Tagalog-speaking medical staff are also available. APHCV is centrally located in Los Feliz.
Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc. along with the NDEP and ADA, are urging people with diabetes to take care of their hearts by focusing on three numbers: blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol. People with diabetes should ask their doctors or other health care providers three important questions:
• What are my blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers?
• What should my target numbers be?
• What do I need to do to reach and maintain my target numbers?
Recommended Targets:
• Blood glucose - less than 7 percent on the A1C (or hemoglobin A1C ) test.
Check at least twice a year.
• Blood pressure - below 130/80. Check at every doctor’s visit.
• Cholesterol (LDL) - below 100. Check at least once a year.
The same steps needed to manage blood glucose work for managing blood pressure and cholesterol: follow a healthy diet and get daily physical activity to avoid being overweight and take prescribed medicines. People with diabetes should also avoid smoking and ask their health care providers about aspirin therapy.
For more information on Asian Pacific Health Care Venture’s diabetes program call (323) 644-3880 ext. 273. For more information on the NDEP, call (800) 438-5383 or go to the NDEP website at
