Health Tip
Diabetes Care
Our Healthy Options diabetes care management program is designed to assist members in effective management of diabetes. Diabetes is a serious disease and has severe complications such as kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke and limb amputations.
Education about self-management through a contracting certified diabetes educator program is an important part of being able to control diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes get these tests:
- Blood sugar: daily or as directed by your doctor.
- Hemoglobin A1c test: every 3-6 months.
- Blood pressure: every medical appointment.
- Foot exam: every medical appointment. Your health care professional will check the nerves and blood circulation of your feet.
- Dilated eye exam: annually by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
- Heart disease risk factors: annually by a physician.
- Lipid profile*: annually. A blood test of cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Urine protein test: annually. These tests screen for kidney problems.
- Blood creatinine*: annually. These tests screen for kidney problems.
* not to be included in assessment of pediatric patients
Next Topic: Diabetes and Exercise