It is crucial to receive regular medical care in order to lower the risk of complications of diabetes. Following are five exams that anyone who has diabetes should undergo on a regular basis.

There has been a sharp increase, at an alarming rate, of diabetes in the US. Most all organs in the body are affected by this condition. It is possible to reduce the chances of medical problems that commonly occur because of diabetes by scheduling regular doctor’s appointments and by making sure to maintain safe and normal blood sugar levels. All diabetics require certain exams and tests in order to maintain their health. There are five crucial exams for diabetics that must not be overlooked.

Eye examination - Some diabetics have some kind of retinopathy before they were first diagnosed as a diabetic. It is crucial to get your eyes examined to watch out for this common version of an eye ailment that might cause somebody to go blind. Once a year, a dilated exam of the eyes needs to be done by an ophthalmologist after the first exam of the eyes. Pay close attention to this test. Your eyesight might be dependent on it.

Hemoglobin A1C Level - To find out how the blood sugar levels have been over the past three to four months, a blood exam is done. The risk of the development of complications of diabetes is higher when the levels of hemoglobin A1C are elevated. To ensure that there is adequate control of the levels of blood sugar, the blood test needs to be performed at least three times a year.

Lipid Profiles - It is especially important for diabetics to have a lipid profile, because they have greater propensity for getting heart disease. Prevention is important as heart disease causes over 60% of diabetic deaths. Cholesterol and triglycerides have to be watched cautiously and must stay within a normal standard to greatly decrease the possibility of having cardiovascular disease and a heart attack. This test should be done yearly, and even more often if the results are not in the normal range.

Urinalysis - You should schedule two urinalyses every year to look for protein in the urine. A condition, diabetic nephropathy, is commonly caused when the kidneys are affected by diabetes. When albumin or urine protein is present, detection can be in the early stages. A urinalysis is a crucial tool for screening for diabetic nephropathy, which can be silent, or without symptoms.

Foot Exam - The ailment termed diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage of the feet, occurs commonly in diabetics. There is also an increased risk of the condition causing lowered flow of blood to the feet and legs, or peripheral vascular disease. Small cuts and scratches are slower to heal, and there is a higher risk of infection when blood flow is lowered. Infections are more serious and more difficult to treat for diabetics, because there is less blood flow; this can ultimately lead to complications such as gangrene, that may require amputation. Diabetic neuropathy affects the nerves, making the feet feel numb, so if there is an infection, it might not be noticed until it is too late. Diabetics can have many types of foot problems, but are especially prone to foot fungal infections. A foot exam that is complete needs to be done yearly for this reason.

The risk of complications that are serious can be lowered when the time is taken to have regular diabetic exams. These crucial checks on your health must not be ignored.