Detecting and treating complications

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Treatment aim 3 - to detect and treat any complications promptly

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 - which include testing for protein in the urine which may indicate early kidney problems.
foot checks.
other blood tests.

It is important to have regular checks as some complications, particularly if detected early, can be treated or prevented from getting worse.

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 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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