Detecting and treating complications

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Treatment aim 3 - to detect and treat any complications

Most GP's surgeries and hospitals have special diabetes clinics. Doctors, nurses, dieticians, chiropodists, optometrists, and other health care workers all play a role in giving advice and checking on progress. Activities in diabetes clinics include:

Checking levels of blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Ongoing advice on diet and lifestyle.
Checking for early signs of complications. For example:

eye checks - to detect problems with the retina (a possible complication of diabetes) which can often be prevented from getting worse. Glaucoma is also more common in people with diabetes, and can usually be treated.
urine tests - these include testing for protein in the urine which may indicate early kidney problems.
foot checks - to help to prevent foot ulcers.
blood tests - these include checks on kidney function and other general tests. They also include checks for some auto-immune diseases which are more common in people with diabetes. For example, coeliac disease and thyroid disorders are more common than average in people with Type 1 diabetes.
Some complications can be treated much easier if they are detected early. So, regular checks are important.

Immunisation

You should be immunised against 'flu (each autumn) and against the pneumococcus bacteria (just given once). These infections can be particularly unpleasant if you have diabetes.

Diabetes UK

This leaflet gives only a brief account of diabetes. For further information on diabetes, contact Diabetes UK (formerly the British Diabetic Association). There are numerous branches throughout the country. They produce information leaflets on various topics related to diabetes and their careline answers enquiries on all aspects of diabetes.

Diabetes UK 10 Parkway, London, NW1 7AA Tel (careline): 0845 120 2960 (lo-call rate) Tel (office): 020 7424 1000 Web: www.diabetes.org.uk

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