Monitoring Diabetes

When you have diabetes, there are a number of associated complications that can lead to serious health problems. To try and prevent this, doctors will test you regularly to make sure that you are controlling you blood glucose well and various other markers are within normal limits. It is likely you will have a diabetic review once every 6-12 months. At this check up you will be tested for a number of things, including

• BP (blood pressure)
• HbA1c – (Glycosylated Haemoglobin) a measure of how well you have been controlling your blood sugar.
• Cholesterol (LDL and HDL)
•  To make sure you don’t smoke

Your doctor will also want you to attend screening for your eyes usually every 6 to 12 months to ensure you are not developing any eye problems such as retinopathy or glaucoma. You will probably also be advised to visit a  podiatrist regularly to ensure that your feet are well maintained as some diabetics find that they develop foot pain regularly. This is also to make sure that the nerves in your feet are not getting damaged by the high levels of sugar within your blood.

The best way to make sure you remain fit and healthy when you have diabetes is to ensure that you control you blood sugar levels as well as possible.

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