Diabetes Check-Up Do You Have These Important Tests And Exams Regularly?
- Dilated Eye Exam: Even if your vision seems fine, you should see an optometrist or ophthalmology at least once a year.
- AIC: This blood test show how well you diabetes has been controlled over the past two to three months. A general goal is to have an AIC of less than 7 percent. For some, less than 6 percent may be preferable.
- Foot Exam: Regularly check your feet at home and have your doctor inspect them at each office visit.
- Dental Exam: Visit your dentist twice a year and be sure to say that you have diabetes.
- Microalbumin Test: This annual test measures the amount of protein in your urine and checks to see how well your kindneys are functioning. Kidney problems can be a common and serious complication of diabetes.
- Blood Pressure Check: Having diabetes increases your risk of high blood pressure. Blood pressure readings vary, but in general, yours should be less than 130/80 mmHg.
- Cholesterol Test: High levels of the “bad” LDL cholesterol put you at a greater risk for heart disease. Since having diabetes already increases your risk, it’s important to keep you LDL level at less than 100 mg/dL. Your ‘good’ HDL cholesterol should be above 40 mg/dL for men and above 50 mg/dL for women. Your triglcerides should be below 15o mg/dL.
Sources: National Diabetes Education Program, www.ndep.nih.gov; American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org, 10/08, NCEP-ATP 111 Guidelines
Digg
Sphinn
del.icio.us
Facebook
Mixx
Google
