Physical exams and appointments
- Weight and height measurements for calculating BMI (every visit)
- Blood pressure measurement (every visit)
- Foot check with diabetes care provider (every visit) or podiatrist (once a year or more often if you have problems)
- Setting goals for food and exercise with diabetes care provider, nurse, physician assistant, or certified diabetes educator (once a year or more often)
- Discussion of medications, old and new, as well as refills of prescriptions (every visit)
- Comprehensive dilated eye exam by optometrist or ophthalmologist (once a year; every other year if your eye specialist recommends it)
- Teeth cleaning (every 6 months) and mouth exam (once a year) by dental hygienist and dentist
- Ankle-brachial index test if you have signs of peripheral artery disease, or PAD (as needed)
Lab tests
- A1C test, by diabetes care provider (blood test; 2 to 4 times a year)
- Cholesterol measurements for LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides (fasting blood test; every 5 years or more often as needed)
- Serum Creatinine/eGFR (blood test; once a year) to measure your kidney function
- Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (urine sample; once a year) to measure your kidney function
What to bring with you
- Blood glucose meter or logbook
- A list of all your current medications
- A list of questions or concerns to discuss with your provider
- Anything else your healthcare provider's office specifies