Seeing Your Health Care Provider¹

Your primary source for individualized information and advice about your diabetes is your healthcare provider. Please see Diabetes Care Team section for more information about who is involved in your care team.  Diabetes experts advise that certain tests be done on a regular basis to assist with diabetes care decision making.

Tests every three months:

• Hemoglobin A1c (often referred to as just "A1c"): can be less often if the blood glucose is well controlled
• Blood pressure check: regular blood pressure checks are important because controlling hypertension (high blood pressure) is essential in slowing kidney disease.²
• Weight check
• Foot exam: over time, 20 - 40 % of people with diabetes develop neuropathy nerve damage, causing loss of feeling in their feet and lower legs. Nerve damage may prevent patients from feeling if they have any cuts. Untreated cuts can lead to infections, ulcerations, and in severe cases, amputation.³

Every six months:

• Dental Exam

Every year:

• Comprehensive foot exam: it's important to get annual comprehensive foot exams to identify risk factors for ulcers and amputations.
• Blood cholesterol and other blood fats (lipids) test
• Kidney tests: one of the more common long-term complications of diabetes is kidney damage. Diabetes is a main risk factor for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the most advanced stage of kidney disease so it is important to have your kidneys checked regularly.⁴
• Liver function tests: the risk of having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition in which excess fat builds up in your liver even with little or no alcohol, is increased if you have diabetes, so it is important to have your liver function tests done regularly.⁵
• Dilated Eye Exam: retina disorders caused by type 1 and type 2 diabetes is very common. It is important to visit your eye doctor regularly to check your eyes.³
• Flu Shot: people with diabetes are at high risk of serious flu complications. In recent seasons, about 30 percent of adult flu hospitalizations reported to the CDC have had diabetes. Diabetes can make the immune system less able to fight infections and make it harder to control blood sugar.⁷ Click here for free or low-cost flu immunization

Resources

1. American Diabetes Association. Work with your Healthcare Team https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/diabetes/prevention--treatment-of-diabetes/work-with-your-health-care-team
2. Cleveland Clinic - Working with Your Diabetes Heath Care Team - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9823-working-with-your-diabetes-health-care-team
3. American Heart Association -Work With Your Healthcare Team -  https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/diabetes/prevention--treatment-of-diabetes/work-with-your-health-care-team
4. American Heart Association - Kidney Disease and Diabetes - https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/11/03/the-connection-between-diabetes-kidney-disease-and-high-blood-pressure
5. Mayo Clinic - Diabetes: How do I help protect my liver? - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/diabetes/faq-20058461
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Influenza (flu) - Flu and People with Diabetes - https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/diabetes.htm