Checkups to get when you have diabetes
Diabetes checkups
Diabetes can cause complications from head to toe.
Find out when to get the tests you need.
Regular checkups and tests can help you avoid or delay complications from diabetes.*
Select to see how.
Eye exam
Every year*
High blood sugar combined with high blood pressure can cause retinopathy, which can lead to blindness. Regular eye exams can detect retinopathy before vision loss occurs.
Dental exam
Every 6 months*
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause gum disease. And gum disease can make blood sugar harder to control.
Blood pressure check
Every 3 to 6 months*
High blood pressure raises your risk for stroke, eye problems and heart disease. Controlling your blood pressure may help reduce your risk of these complications.
Cholesterol test
Every 5 years*
High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, which kill 2 out of 3 people with diabetes.
Hemoglobin A1C test
At least twice a year*
An A1C test shows an average of your blood sugar levels over the last 2 to 3 months. This number can help your doctor determine if your current treatment plan is working.
Kidney tests
At least once a year*
High blood sugar or blood pressure can damage vessels in your kidneys. A Urine test looks for a protein called albumin, an early sign of kidney disease. And a blood test measures how well your kidneys are working.
Foot exam
Every 3 to 6 months*
Diabetes can damage nerves in the feet, making it hard to know if you have blisters, calluses or cuts. Regular foot exams can help avoid infection.
*Ask your doctor how often you should have these tests.
Dial in your diabetes care
Dial in diabetes
Diabetes can be managed. Work with your doctor to make lifestyle changes—such as diet and exercise—and to keep your blood sugar in your target range.
Get more diabetes facts.
Sources: American Diabetes Association; National Institutes of Health
Sources
- American Diabetes Association. "A1C Looks Back." https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/a1c.
- American Diabetes Association. "Cardiovascular Disease." https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/complications/cardiovascular-disease.
- American Diabetes Association. "Diabetes Complications." https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/complications.
- American Diabetes Association. "Diabetes and High Blood Pressure." https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/complications/high-blood-pressure.
- American Diabetes Association. "Health Checks for People with Diabetes." https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/newly-diagnosed/health-checks-people-with-diabetes.
- American Diabetes Association. "Standards of Care in Diabetes—2023." https://diabetesjournals.org/care/issue/46/Supplement_1.
- American Stroke Association. "Risk Factors Under Your Control." https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-risk-factors/risk-factors-under-your-control.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. "Cholesterol: Living With." https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/blood-cholesterol/living-with.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. "Diabetes, Gum Disease, & Other Dental Problems." https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/gum-disease-dental-problems.
- National Library of Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information. “Machine Learning and Data Mining Methods in Diabetes Research." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5257026.
- National Library of Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information. “Periodontitis and Diabetes: a Two-Way Relationship." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3228943.