Check-Ups for Good Diabetes Health:
Healthcare appointments and routine tests at regular intervals are an important part of good diabetes care to protect against complications and other health problems. Your doctor should check your blood pressure, weight and your feet at every appointment to help detect changes before they turn serious. Regularly scheduled lab tests also help monitor for changes in your health.
Check Blood Pressure:
Every visit to the doctor should include a blood pressure reading. Keeping track of blood pressure is important because people with diabetes tend to have more trouble with high blood pressure than people who don't have the disease. High blood pressure puts a strain on the heart and kidneys and puts you at risk for both heart disease and kidney disease. A good target blood pressure is 130/80.
Check Weight:
Extra weight means increased insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes, but being overweight also contributes to high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure no matter which kind of diabetes you have. Keeping the weight off helps prevent or delay complications.
Check Feet:
It's important for your healthcare professional to do foot checks at every appointment to assess for circulation, numbness, or any cuts or sores. Not being able to feel your feet can make you unaware of injuries. Decreased circulation can slow down healing time and leave feet susceptible to infection.
Check A1C:
The A1c test, also known as a Hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, or Glycated hemoglobin is the gold standard for giving your doctor the big picture on your blood glucose levels. The A1c test shows an average of your blood glucose levels over a longer length of time, usually 3 to six months. Doctors feel this is a more accurate indication of your overall glucose control.
Other Tests To Get Done Annually:
These are important baseline checks
- Lipid profile - cholesterol blood test to make sure your HDL's and triglycerides are in a good range.
- Eye exam - to check for damage to the retina and other visual changes
And also these tests to assess for kidney function:
- A blood test for creatinine and BUN
- A urinalysis for evidence of protein, microalbumin, and albumin-to-creatinine ratios
Covering All The Bases:
Keeping a handle on all the many different facets of diabetes can help you keep your health under control and also help prevent or delay the long-term complications associated with diabetes.
Sources:
United States. National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP).Guiding Principles for Diabetes Care. GPO, 2004.
