Firstly, your blood glucose should be checked regularly, as directed by your doctor, and more often when you’re feeling ill. Log these numbers, for your doctor’s and your reference, and call your doctor if your blood glucose is less than 70 mg/dl and you have more than one unexplained low blood glucose reading a week, or if your blood glucose is greater than 180 mg/dl for more than a week or if you have two consecutive readings greater than 300 mg/dl. You should get a urinalysis for ketones done when your blood glucose is more than 300 mg/dl.
If you take insulin, you should see your doctor every 3 to 4 months, otherwise it should be every 4 to 6 months if you are managing your diabetes with oral medications or diet and exercise alone. If your blood glucose levels aren’t under control, you’re having problems with your medicine or you have an infection, you may need to see your doctor more frequently. At every visit, your doctor should always check your blood pressure and weight and examine your feet and insulin injection sites.
You should get a glycosylated haemoglobin test (HbA1C) done every 3 months, unless otherwise recommended, and your teeth and gums should be examined at least every 6 months. An eye exam, including a retinopathy screening test, should be done at least once a year, and you should make an appointment right away if you ever have blurred vision in one eye or have blind spots in your vision. Other yearly tests that need to be done are a urinalysis to check kidney health and a lipid profile test to check your cholesterol and triglycerides. You should also take a diabetes class or meet with a diabetes educator yearly, and see a dietician for a dietary evaluation every year or 2. Remember that these are only general guidelines and your needs may vary so consult your clinician about your medical schedule.