Free Articles on Diabetes and many other topics
Another free Diabetes article for you by Sharon Rowe
Titled: Your Diabetic Checkup Get the Diabetes category RSS Feed

Your Diabetic Checkup

Article Summary: No one really likes going to the doctor, but it is important for diabetics to have yearly exams to avoid the possibility of life changing complications. This article will list the important exams diabetics need to have and when they should have them.

Did you know that in the United States there are 20.8 million children and adults living with diabetes? The number is astounding. Some diabetics realize the importance of diet in properly managing their diabetes, then again others don't. This is a sad thing because people that don't realize the importance of compliance open themselves up for life changing complications. Proper management of your body is another important factor in the management of diabetes. Not properly taking care of your body could mean putting yourself at higher risk for serious complications. A yearly diabetic checkup is a must as a preventative to complications common to the diabetic community, problems that could possibly lead to the loss of your eyesight or a limb. There are four exams vital in screening potential problems to diabetics: the dental, eye, foot, and physical exam. This article will discuss when you should have each exam and the importance of doing so.

Dental Exam (Every six months)

Diabetics are more prone to developing dental problems because of poor management of blood sugar levels, which impairs white blood cells (the body's primary defense in fighting bacterial infection).

Many diabetics are at increased risk of developing periodontal (gum) disease. In fact periodontal disease is more prevalent in the diabetic community. Other common dental problems include dry mouth (a decrease in saliva flow), thrush (fungal infection) primarily seen in diabetics who frequently take antibiotics, burning mouth syndrome (due primarily to thrush), candidiasis and gingival inflammation. These are just a few of the reasons that the six month dental exam is very important.

Diabetics who smoke put themselves at an even greater risk of developing thrush and periodontal disease. It is very important for people living with diabetes to maintain good oral hygiene. Also be aware of any changes and report them to your physician immediately.

Eye Exam (Once a year)

Possible problems of the eyes resulting from diabetes include, cataracts (this is a clouding of the eye's lens), glaucoma (increase of fluid pressure inside the eye leading to optic nerve damage and loss of vision), and diabetic retinopathy (the most common diabetic eye disease).

It has been noted by the American Diabetes Association that diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year, making diabetes the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20 -74 years of age. This makes it vital that you have your eyes checked. Even if you aren't having problems with your vision a dilated eye exam should be done at least once a year.

Foot Exam (Once a year)

Neuropathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes. Neuropathy causes a loss of feeling in the feet. For this reason diabetics should never walk barefoot or attempt to cut their own toe nails. A podiatrist should always be sought for this. Special care needs to be given to the feet. They should be kept clean and moisturized to avoid cracking of the skin. Also inspecting the feet daily would be a good idea.

Due to the slow healing process (common in diabetics) infection can sometimes set in if the feet become injured from cuts or other injuries like bumping the toe. Slow healing could eventually lead to amputation. The rate of amputations for people living with diabetes is ten times higher than for people without diabetes. So a yearly foot exam is a must.

Physical Exam (Once a year)

Other complications affecting diabetics include hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Preventative measures can be properly addressed during a yearly physical.

In closing, diabetic compliance is the first key to proper management. This includes diet, seeing your physician for the above exams, and exercise. These are all key components in you living a better life. Not properly keeping your exam dates could lead to complications that could change your life forever.

Reference

1. Complications of Diabetes in the United States. American Diabetes Association. Available from. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/complications.jsp

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Sharon Rowe
Sharon Rowe has been a registered nurse for over ten years. She noticed during her years in nursing the growing need for a development of health forms to be used primarily for in home use. Visit her at http://www.yourmedform.com