You know that managing your diabetes is a life-long commitment. The best diabetes care involves a partnership between you and your healthcare provider. To help make sure that you are getting the best care, here is a list of things that should be covered in your continuing care visits:
Medical history - Assess treatment regimen
- Frequency/severity of hypo- or hyperglycemia
- Results of blood glucose self-monitoring
- Review medications - both anti-diabetes and other
- Any changes you might have made in your regimen
- Adherence problems
- Lifestyle changes
- Symptoms of complications
- Other medical illnesses
- Psychosocial issues
- Tobacco and alcohol use
Physical exam
- Annually:
- Physical examination
- Dilated eye examination
- Foot examination
- Flu shot
- Every visit:
- Weight
- Blood pressure
- Review abnormalities on previous physical exams
Lab work
- HbA1c - quarterly if not meeting goals, twice a year if stable
- Fasting plasma glucose (optional)
- Fasting lipid profile - annually unless low risk
- Microalbumin measurement - annually if indicated
How often you go to the doctor will depend on your control; patients who are not meeting their glucose control goals are usually asked to come in for a routine check every quarter. Others are checked twice a year.
Print this out and take it with you to your next appointment. Let your healthcare provider know that you are actively involved in self-management of your diabetes and expect to receive the recommended care.
Next week we'll look at the elements of a diabetes management plan that should be reviewed regularly with your health-care provider.
Source: ADA. Standards of Medical Care for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Clinical Practice Recommendations 2000.
