Living With Diabetes
Patients suffering from diabetes must take good care of themselves. If you are one of them, ensure that you eat healthily, cut down sugar intake, monitor your blood sugar levels frequently, take medicines on time, and visit your endocrinologist frequently. Your blood needs to get rid of excess sugar to keep you healthy and fit. While in diabetes, if you do not take medicines on time, your blood sugar will remain raised and can be dangerous for your blood vessels, eyes, kidney, and foot. It can also increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and impairment of sexual desires, especially in men. Therefore, people suffering from diabetes need to get some tests done frequently to ensure they are doing good and for early detection of any health condition. In this article, we are going to talk about some important tests that a diabetic person needs to get done and their significance.
HbA1c
If you are diabetic, or at risk of it, you need to get an HbA1c test done at least twice in a year. It will tell you about your blood sugar levels of the previous two to three months. Through it, your healthcare provider will get an insight into how well are you controlling your blood sugar in the last two to three months. On the results of the test, they can decide your further treatment. Try to keep your HbA1c levels around 7%. Also, you can book a diabetes profile test though InstCare.
Blood Pressure
The normal range of blood pressure is 120/80mm of Hg. Diabetes leaves you at risk of getting high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, that can lead to stroke and heart attack. Therefore, to prevent hypertension and for its early detection, you must get your blood pressure checked often. Since hypertension has no such signs and symptoms, it is necessary to keep an eye on it.
Blood Cholesterol Levels
High blood sugar makes you prone to heart diseases. Therefore, you must get your blood cholesterol levels checked at least after two years. If your blood cholesterol levels remain altered than normal, get them checked more frequently. High cholesterol in your blood can deposit in your arteries and can clog them up, eventually leading to a stroke or heart attack. You can also get your blood cholesterol levels checked through InstaCare.
Foot Exam
Diabetes causes tingling, numbness, and loss of sensation in your feet. Therefore, you must go to a primary healthcare provider to get a foot examination done. The doctor would check the reflexes of your feet and will get an insight into how much sensation you can feel.
Moreover, they will examine your feet for calluses, sores, infections, and ulcers. Altered blood supply and loss of sensation in your feet can make you prone to foot infections, that can lead to access, hence amputation. Since you would never want to get your foot amputation done, keep an eye on your foot, and control your blood sugar levels.
Eye exams
You must visit ophthalmologists frequently if you are diabetic. They would check your eyes for possible diabetic retinopathy- a condition that damage your eyes due to high blood sugar. Moreover, diabetes can also cause glaucoma and cataract. Your ophthalmologist would also check your eyes for these conditions.
Kidney Functions Test
By the time, diabetes affects your kidneys. Your kidneys are there to filter excrete waste material out from your body. When excess sugar is present in your blood, your kidneys work to excrete them out, which eventually damages them. Therefore, it is important to keep your blood sugar levels in control with regular kidney function tests.
Dental Exams
Get regular dental exams done if you are diabetic because it can cause infections and inflammation of your gums, which can also lead to a tooth abscess. To avoid complications, get a dental evaluation done every six months. Also, practice self-care tips like proper brushing twice in a day, flossing, and mouth wash.
Book An Appointment With Diabetologist Through InstaCare
InstaCare has a variety of diabetologists on board who can help you in the management of diabetes. Also, they can guide you about when and which screening test you need to get done. To book an appointment with a healthcare provider, download the InstaCare Application now.
Please book an appointment with the Best Diabetologist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03100002273 to find the verified doctor for your disease.
