Staying Watchful: An Essential Part of your Diabetes Management Plan

In order to lessen your risk of long term complications, you and your team need to remain watchful.

First and foremost, keep an eye on your blood sugar readings as described in the last chapter. Do not be surprised if you need to change your treatment plan over time. This happens for most people with diabetes because diabetes is a progressive disease.

If and when this happens to you, please do not think you or your care team have done something wrong. In all likelihood, the higher readings just reflect the natural course of type 2 diabetes.

While such changes might be discouraging, remember that there is a solution: You and your team work together to find a way to get those numbers back in range!

Another very important thing to be mindful about is getting regular diabetes checkups, usually every 3 to 6 months. 

When you were first diagnosed with diabetes, you were given a comprehensive medical evaluation. Your regular check-ups will address any issues that this first evaluation suggested were important especially for you, as well as things that everyone with diabetes needs to have checked on a regular basis.

You and your team will decide how often each item should be checked.

• A1c, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol levels

• Kidney function

• Foot exam, including nerve function test

• Dilated eye exam

• Dental Exam

• Immunizations

You may have questions for your provider or they may have questions for you about

• Smoking Cessation

• Eating Patterns

• Sexual Concerns

• Physical Activity Level

• Addition of Technology Tools to Your Management Plan 

• “Diabetes Distress” or feeling overwhelmed by diabetes

• Need to Connect with community resources, mental health counselors, diabetes education classes, dieticians, or support groups.

If complications are present you may want to discuss a referral to an endocrinologist, cardiologist, kidney specialist, neurologist, or podiatrist, as a few examples.

These regular diabetes check-ups are super important!