Diabetes causes serious complications, involving many body systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, the risk of death in diabetics is two times greater than for nondiabetics of similar age. Maintaining good control of diabetes by caring for your health and monitoring for eye, foot and kidney problems in a timely manner can greatly reduce the risk of complications such as blindness, kidney damage, and lower-limb amputations.
Daily List
The American Diabetes Association or ADA recommends that diabetics perform various daily self-care activities including checking and recording blood sugar levels as directed by the doctor; practicing good foot care by washing, trimming toenails, and checking for wounds or infections; applying good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing; eating according to a diabetes meal plan; taking medicines appropriately; and exercising, with supervision by the doctor.
Quarterly List
The ADA-suggested checklist of activities that diabetics should perform every three to six months includes visiting the doctor; getting a glycosylated hemoglobin or HgA1c test to check how well blood sugar was controlled in the past two or three months; having feet inspected for injury or infection by the doctor; having weight and blood pressure checked by the doctor to watch for diabetes complications; getting a dental exam to check for gum disease; and meeting with a diabetes educator.
Annual List
According to the American College of Physicians, items that should be included in the annual checklist for diabetics are getting an eye exam; having an annual exam with the doctor and diabetes educator; testing urine for albumin or protein to check for kidney disease; having cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels checked with a lipid profile test; and getting a pneumonia vaccine if recommended by the doctor.
