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Diabetes tests and checkups

Routine diabetes tests; Diabetes - prevention

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People who take control of their own diabetes care by eating healthy foods, living an active lifestyle, and taking medicines as prescribed often have good control of their blood sugar levels. Still, regular health checkups and tests are needed. These visits give you a chance to:

See Your Doctor

See your diabetes provider every 3 to 6 months. During this visit, your provider should check your:

See your dentist every 6 months, also.

If you are taking insulin, your provider will also examine your skin to look for signs of reactions to insulin at your injection sites. These may be hard areas or areas where fat under the skin has formed a lump.

Your provider may also check your abdomen for signs of an enlarged liver.

Eye Exams

An eye doctor should check your eyes every year. See an eye doctor who takes care of people with diabetes.

If you have eye problems because of diabetes, you will probably see your eye doctor more often.

Foot Exams

Your provider should check the pulses in your feet and your reflexes at least once a year. Your provider should also look for:

If you have had foot ulcers before, see your provider every 3 to 6 months. It is always a good idea to ask your provider to check your feet.

Hemoglobin A1C Tests

An A1C lab test shows how well you are controlling your blood sugar levels over a 3-month period.

The normal level is less than 5.7%. Most people with diabetes should aim for an A1C of less than 7%. Some people have a higher target. Your doctor will help decide what your target should be.

Higher A1C numbers mean that your blood sugar is higher and that you may be more likely to have complications from your diabetes.

Cholesterol

A cholesterol profile test measures cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. You should have this kind of test in the morning, after not eating since the night before.

Adults with type 2 diabetes should have this test at least every 5 years. People age 40 or over with high cholesterol or on medicines to control their cholesterol may have this test more often.

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure should be measured at every visit. Talk to your provider about what your blood pressure goal should be.

Kidney Tests

Once a year, you should have a urine test that looks for a protein called albumin.

Your doctor will also have you take a blood test every year that measures how well your kidneys work.

Related Information

Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure in adults - hypertension
Diabetes and eye disease
Microalbuminuria test
A1C test
Diabetes - foot ulcers
Diabetes eye care
Diabetes - when you are sick
Diabetes - preventing heart attack and stroke
Diabetes - taking care of your feet
Diabetes and exercise
Diabetes - keeping active
Low blood sugar - self-care
Managing your blood sugar
ACE inhibitors
Type 2 diabetes - what to ask your doctor

References

American Diabetes Association. 4. Comprehensive medical evaluation and assessment of comorbidities: standards of medical care in diabetes-2022. Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Suppl 1):S46-S59. PMID: 34964869 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34964869/.

Brownlee M, Aiello LP, Sun JK, et al. Complications of diabetes mellitus. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 37.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Your diabetes care schedule. www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/care-schedule.html. Updated May 25, 2021. Accessed August 26, 2022.

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Review Date: 4/29/2022  

Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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