Blood Tests and Health Checks for People with Diabetes

If you have Type 2 diabetes, you might know that you need to monitor your health a little more closely. This is because having diabetes puts you at higher risk for other conditions, such as heart disease, eye disease, and more.

Here, we’ve put together a list of tests that experts recommend for people with diabetes, along with how often you should get them. Of course, these tests often depend on individual risk factors, so always follow your healthcare team’s instructions first. Diabetes care isn’t always one-size-fits-all.

These tests will inform you about your health, and they can help you avoid long-term complications of diabetes. It’s true what they say: Prevention is the best medicine.

Hemoglobin A1C

You’re probably familiar with this common test for diabetes: hemoglobin A1C (known as HbA1c or A1C). It measures the average amount of sugar in your blood over the last 2 to 3 months.

High blood sugar levels — and A1C — increase your risk for complications like nerve and eye damage. So it’s generally recommended to keep your A1C under 7%. But this can vary per person, so be sure to follow the plan your diabetes team has set with you.

How often: every 6 months, if your last result was within range (and every 3 months if not)

Kidney function tests

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease in the U.S. Kidney disease doesn’t usually cause symptoms, so it’s important to check on your kidneys on a regular basis. This can be done with two tests:

• Blood testing measures glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which estimates how well your kidneys work. GFR above 60 is considered normal.

• Urine testing looks for a protein called albumin. This protein shouldn’t be in the urine. So, if it’s there, that means kidney damage. This value should be less than 30 mg/g.

How often: every year, or more often if you already have kidney disease

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• What’s a ‘normal’ hemoglobin A1C? The answer isn’t always one-size-fits-all. Learn why your target may depend on your age, health, and other factors.

• Which test is best to diagnose diabetes? From A1C and fasting glucose to oral glucose tolerance tests, here’s what you need to know about the different ways to diagnose diabetes or prediabetes — and when each one makes sense.

• Can you measure your A1C at home? Yes, you definitely can. Here’s what you need to know about at-home A1C test kits.

Lipid panel

If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to have high cholesterol and triglycerides. And these increase the risk of heart disease. So it’s important to keep an eye on your cholesterol and triglyceride levels regularly. This can be done with a simple blood test.

Experts usually recommend that everyone with diabetes take a cholesterol medication called a statin. But some people may need higher doses or more than one medication to lower their cholesterol.

How often: It depends on your age and other risk factors. Your diabetes team will check your cholesterol every year. And they’ll check it more often if you’ve recently started or changed a cholesterol medication.

Blood pressure

This is a measure of the force of blood in your blood vessels. High blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. But, like kidney disease, it doesn’t cause symptoms. So you probably won’t know if your blood pressure is high unless you check it.

A blood pressure reading of less than 130/80 mmHg is a good goal for most people with diabetes. 

How often: every office visit, or more often if your medication is changing

Eye exam

Eye exams are very important for people with diabetes. This is because diabetes increases your risk of a few different eye problems:

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Macular edema

• Glaucoma

• Early cataracts

In many cases, these problems can cause vision loss, and they aren’t reversible. So it’s best to find them early. Your eye doctor can do this with a dilated eye exam. This is where they instill drops to dilate (widen) your pupils and look at the structures in the back of the eye.

How often: at least once per year

Dental exam

Oral (mouth) health problems are a lesser known risk linked with having diabetes. In particular, diabetes increases your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. This is especially true if you have dry mouth from diabetes or medications.

How often: at least twice a year, or more frequently if your dentist recommends it

Foot exam

Foot ulcers and infections can be a big problem for people with diabetes. In some cases, they can lead to amputation. Diabetes causes problems with wound healing, and it can decrease your sensation in your feet. So sometimes wounds or ulcers don’t cause pain. This is why getting regular foot checks is important. 

How often: at least once a year, and more frequently if you have decreased sensation in your feet or blood vessel disease 

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Written by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

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