| What is Diabetes? | Diabetes, Depression and You | Diabetes and Blood Pressure | Diabetes and Nutrition | |
| Diabetic Supplies | If You Have Diabetes | Are you at risk? | Diabetes Support Groups |
Additional Resources |
Do You Have Diabetes?
If you do, it's important for you to follow the advice of medical experts. Listed below are tests/examinations the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends for people with diabetes to have on a regular basis. These tests are the tools that your doctor uses to monitor and manage your condition.
| Test/Examination | Why you need this test/examination | How often this test/examination should be done | Desired test result |
| HbA1c | Tells what your average blood sugar is over three months time. | Two to four times a year | Below 7% |
| Lipid Profile | Shows the level of fats in your blood. | Once a year | Total Cholesterol below 200 mg/dL LDL below 100mg/dL HDL greater than 40mg/dL for men and greater than 50 for women Triglyerides below 150mg/dL |
| Microalbumin in urine | Measures your kidney function. | Once a year | Below 30mg/24 hr |
| Dilated Retinal Examination | Tells if diabetes is affecting your eyes. | Once a year | Does not apply |
| Foot Examination | To see if diabetes is affecting your feet. | Every visit | Does not apply |
| Waist Circumference | Shows the amount of fat around your stomach | Once a year | Less than 40 inches for men Less than 35 inches for women |
| Blood Pressure | Measures the blood flow resistance in your vessels when your heart is contracting and at rest. | Every visit | Below 130/80 mm Hg |
Have you had these tests?
If Yes
We are glad that you have had these important tests. Even if you have had one or all of these tests, please keep your scheduled follow-up visit with your doctor.If No
If you have not had all of these tests/examinations, we urge you to make an appointment with your doctor to have these done as soon as possible. Search for a Provider Now
Are you at risk for diabetes?
Do you want to know if you're at risk for developing diabetes? Go to www.diabetes.org click on Basic Diabetes Information and then click on Risk Factors to take the test.
Reduce your risks: We also recommend that you speak to you doctor to see if aspirin therapy is appropriate for you.
If you smoke, talk to your doctor about entering a program to help you stop smoking. For more information about smoking cessation, click here.
You can obtain more information on diabetes from the following Web sites:
- American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org
- Joslin Diabetes Center: www.joslin.org
Definitions
HbA1c Test
When you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, one of the tests your doctor will order is a type of blood test called HbA1c which measures glycated hemoglobin (Hb). This is an easy test that lets the doctor take a backward look at your diabetes control. Remember that the goal is to achieve blood sugar level to as close to normal as possible at all times. HbA1c does not tell how high your blood sugar is at the time of the test, but tells what your blood sugar has been most of the time for the past three months. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Glycated hemoglobin forms when glucose in the blood attaches to the hemoglobin. Because blood cells stay in circulation for two to three months, glycated hemoglobin level is a good measure of a person’s average blood glucose level over the previous two to three months.
[ back to top ]
Lipid Profile
Lipid profile is a blood test to check your total cholesterol: LDL, HDL and triglycerides (all blood fats). People with diabetes are more likely to have heart and blood vessel problems at an earlier age than others. High levels of cholesterol in your blood can lead to heart attacks. LDL, also called "the bad cholesterol", is a type of cholesterol which if found in high amounts can increase your chances of heart and blood vessel problems. Your LDL cholesterol level should be below 100mg/dl. That’s why it’s important to have your LDL level checked. A simple blood test done at your doctor’s office can measure the LDL level.
Not all cholesterol is bad. HDL, or high density lipoprotein is referred to as the "good cholesterol". It can be increased with regular exercise.
Treatment of high lipids, fats, in your blood reduces the risk of developing heart disease in people without documented heart disease and may cause regression in people with known heart disease.
[ back to top ]
Microalbumin in Urine Test
Persistent protein in the urine is a sign that the kidney is loosing its normal function. Noticing small amounts of protein in the urine (microalbuminuria) is diagnostic of the early stage of kidney disease. The progression of kidney disease can be slowed by medication, control of high blood pressure and by lowering blood sugar close to normal levels.
[ back to top ]
Dilated Retinal Examination
If you have diabetes, you should have your eyes examined at least once a year by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. As part of the eye exam, your doctor will place eye drops in your eyes to enlarge the pupils so that the inside of your eyes can be viewed. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease. This disease is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely the chances of getting diabetic retinopathy. Control of your blood sugar, bringing it down to as normal level as possible, delays the onset and slows the progression of diabetic retinal complications. Nearly half of all people with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy during their lifetime. Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. That’s why a regular exam is necessary. Regular checkups with an eye doctor can detect retinopathy early and possibly prevent severe vision problems.
[ back to top ]
Foot Examination
Diabetes affects the nerves, including those of your limbs. As a result, there is a loss of sensation and muscle weakness. You may have a sore on your foot with slowed healing without feeling it. Damage to leg and foot blood vessels causes poor blood flow, increasing the risk of infection and delaying healing. Wound infections, slow healing or the lack of healing are large sources of suffering and cause a poor quality of life.
To prevent foot problems:
- Always wear comfortable shoes.
- Inspect your feet daily for cuts, blisters and red spots.
- Go to the doctor as soon as you identify a problem.
- Take off your shoes and socks every time you visit your doctor for a foot inspection and an examination.
[ back to top ]
Waist Circumference
Waist circumference measures the amount of fat you have around your middle. Since men and women are built differently, men may have more fat around the middle. Having too much fat around your middle increases the risk of metabolic syndrome and heart disease for both men and women. People who have diabetes need to monitor their weight and make changes that keep their waist circumference in a healthy range. If your waist circumference is too high, speak to your doctor about a weight loss plan.
[ back to top ]
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, causes additional stress on the organs of a diabetic, especially the heart, kidneys and eyes. This stress is cumulative and if left unchecked can lead to failure of these organs. Diagnosing hypertension is simple. A blood pressure cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and is inflated while the examiner listens through a stethoscope. A sphygmomanometer measures the pressure in your arm when your heart beats (systolic pressure) and when your heart relaxes (diastolic pressure). This measurement is expressed as a ratio, systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure (e.g.. 140/80).
Hypertension is usually diagnosed after blood pressure has been noted to be elevated after being measured on three separate occasions. In Type 1 diabetes, hypertension is usually a sign of kidney damage by the diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes, hypertension is a part of a group of symptoms such as obesity, high fats in the blood and coronary artery disease present in many diabetics. Control of hypertension reduces the rate of progression of organ damage to the kidneys, heart, blood vessels of the eye, and brain. Mildly elevated blood pressure can sometimes be treated with exercise and by following a low sodium diet. Remember to speak to your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
If you are prescribed medication for hypertension it is important to continue to take it even if your blood pressure returns to normal with the drug and you are feeling fine. Hypertension is called the silent killer because it usually has no symptoms. As always, speak to you doctor before discontinuing any prescribed medication.
[ back to top ]
