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What You Should Know about Potential Complications
Knowledge is a powerful tool. If you have diabetes, it's vital to know about complications that come up so you can try to avoid them. Getting your diabetes "in control" can prevent these serious problems entirely.
But even if problems do arise, you can most likely work with your doctor to treat them. Prompt care can help prevent it from becoming more serious. Below are some complications of diabetes you should become familiar with:
- Blindness (diabetic retinopathy)
- Kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy)
- Heart disease
- Nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy)
Recommended screenings for diabetics
These screenings are recommended for adults (age 18 or older) with diabetes:
- Detailed foot exam by your doctor – four times a year
- A1C blood test – four times a year
- Blood pressure check – two times a year
- Cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) blood tests – once a year
- Dilated eye exam by ophthalmologist or optometrist – once a year
- Urine test for protein – once a year
If you’d like to learn more about these diabetes-related complications and other health conditions, be sure to log in to your Blue Access for MembersSM account
