Diabetes Management Checklist

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

30 Jul 2006 08:14 AM

Dealing with your diabetes means more than just watching your blood sugar and taking your medicine. Unmanaged blood glucose levels can damage your eyes and kidneys, cause nerve damage, and lead to heart disease. So how do you keep an eye on everything and not go crazy? This diabetes management checklist can help.

1. Check your blood sugar every day. Your blood sugar varies throughout the day based on what you eat and when you eat it. Your doctor may have you check your blood sugar levels more than once daily until your glucose levels are under control.
2. Check your diabetic control index 3-4 times a year if your diabetes is not under control. Your diabetic control index is a look at how well your blood sugar has been controlled over the last few months. This test helps your doctor see if your medicines and/or insulin therapy are actually helping in the long term. This test can also predict the risk of complications like heart disease, kidney failure, vision problems, and circulation problems.
3. Check your feet at least twice a year. If your diabetes is affecting your circulation, your feet could be in danger. Have your doctor check your feet for circulation, nerve damage, and general problems like cuts, calluses, bruises, and infections. If you can't cut your own toenails, ask your doctor, podiatrist, or a family member to help you.
4. Have your eyes checked at least once a year. Diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes, increasing your chances of vision problems. You may also have trouble healing after surgery for glaucoma or cataracts. Experts recommend a special dilated retinal exam yearly for people with diabetes.
5. Have your kidneys checked once a year. Annual testing will assess kidney function to make sure your diabetes has not damaged your kidneys.
6. Have a full lipid panel to check for heart disease once a year. People with diabetes are at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke -- high blood sugar can cause many problems with your circulatory system. The lipid panel will measure your good and bad cholesterol levels and triglycerides.

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