Medical Care in Diabetes
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 10:24Getting consistent medical care can help decrease the chance of diabetic complications. These are 5 examinations that each person with diabetes should have on a regular basis.
The numbers of people that have the disease Diabetes is increasing dramatically in this country. Just about every body organ is affected by this condition. To stop the many problems associated with diabetes, blood sugar needs to be managed appropriately with routine health care and exams to decrease the chance of diabetic problems. For proper health there are some tests and examinations which diabetics need to have performed. You should not ignore these five important exams for diabetic care.
Eye Exam
An eye exam should be done because most diabetics previously have a certain amount of retinopathy before being diagnosed as being a diabetic. The eyes should be looked at regularly to watch for the development of a typical type of eye ailment that might cause blindness one day. Once a year, a dilated exam of the eyes needs to be done by an ophthalmologist after the first eye exam is done. You do not want to ignore this single test. Your vision might be dependant upon it.
Hemoglobin A1C
The blood is drawn to see how someone has managed their blood glucose levels during the past three to four months. A higher hemoglobin A1C level can contribute to the risk of getting diabetic complications. To ensure that blood sugar levels are being properly controlled, the blood test needs to be checked every four months.
Lipid profile
It is necessary for all people to have a lipid profile, but it means a lot more for diabetics to be examined because of they have a greater chance of getting cardiovascular disease. Prevention is crucial as heart disease can cause over 60% of diabetic deaths. Careful monitoring of the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as keeping them at a healthy number, is very important to decrease the risk for heart problems. If the results are abnormal, the test needs to be done more often, but at least every year.
Urinalysis
In order to see if the urine contains protein, every six months, a urinalysis needs to be done. A person with diabetes commonly has kidney issues, and a condition of diabetic nephropathy can develop. By finding urine protein or albumin, they can find it in its early stages. A urinalysis is a screening tool that is important because you can have silent diabetic nephropathy with no symptoms.
Foot Exam
Diabetic neuropathy, a condition which causes damage to the feet’s nerves can affect diabetics. They have a greater possibility for peripheral vascular disease, an ailment that results in diminished blood circulation through the legs and feet. A reduced blood flow causes minor wounds to heal more slowly, and increases the risk of infection. When infections happen, it can be hard for them to heal because there isn’t an adequate blood flow, causing gangrene which could result in cutting off a foot. Diabetic neuropathy, also known as nerve inflammation, causes someone to have less feeling in their feet so they may not be aware if they have an infection until it’s too late. Diabetics tend to also have more fungal foot infections including different problems with their feet. Because of this, you should get your feet thoroughly examined every year.
The risk of serious complications may be reduced by simply taking the time to get the diabetic exams done regularly. Do not overlook these essential health screenings.
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