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Checklist for your Doctor

Know your numbers.

The following chart lists the medical tests and exams that should be part of your regular office visits. Use this checklist as a tool to talk with your doctor and to make sure you get the care for your diabetes that the experts recommend.

Medical Test / Examination	Why	What Result Should Be	How Often Test is Typically Needed
A1c	To see how well your diabetes treatment plan is working, as it measures the average of all blood sugars over 2-3 months	Below 7	Every 3-6 months
Blood Pressure	Checks if medicine is needed to control blood pressure and reduce risks of high blood pressure to the heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves	Less than 130/80mmHg	Every doctor visit
Cholesterol Control (LDL-Bad Cholesterol)	Checks if medicine is needed to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke	LDL less than 100 mg/dL	Once a year
Kidney Function Testing Urine test (microalbumin/creat ratio) Blood test (serum creatine, to check GFR)	Checks if medicine is needed to prevent kidney damage or kidney failure that, untreated, could lead to dialysis (treatment to replace kidney function	- Urine microalb/creat less than 30 mcg/mg creat - GFR of 60 or greater	Once a year
Referral to Certified Diabetes Educator	Working with a diabetes educator can help you better understand and manage your diabetes	Complete diabetes self-management and training course	At least once
Referral for a Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exam	Checks if there is diabetes-related damage to the eyes	Normal eye exam with no evidence of diabetic retinopathy	Once a year
Foot Exam	Identifies high-risk foot conditions and checks if loss of feeling exists in the feet that may lead to injury or infection	Normal protective sensation or feeling	Yearly, or at every doctor visit if high risk
Smoking Status and Stop Smoking Advice	Because smoking increases the rate at which complications from diabetes occur	Stop smoking	Review at every doctor visit

Download the full Diabetes Pathway to Health as a PDF

The Maine Pathway to Health is produced and supported by Chronic Disease Partners of Maine and Maine Aligning Forces for Quality, an initiative of Quality Counts, the Maine Health Management Coalition, and the Maine Quality Forum. This effort is made possible with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and by generous contributions from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and MaineHealth.