Intervention | Frequency | Notes |
History and physical examination | ||
Height, weight, and BMI | Every visit | |
Smoking cessation counseling | Every visit (if indicated) | |
Blood pressure | Every visit | Goal blood pressure <130/80 mmHg if this target can be achieved safely.* |
Dilated eye examination | Annually¶ | Begin at onset of type 2 diabetes, 3 to 5 years after onset of type 1 diabetes. Examine yearly (or more frequently) if retinopathy present, every 2 to 3 years if there is no evidence of retinopathy. |
Comprehensive foot examination | Annually | Every visit if peripheral vascular disease or neuropathy. |
Dental examination | Annually | Periodontal disease is more severe and may be more prevalent in patients with diabetes. |
Laboratory studies | ||
Lipid profile | Initially, as indicated | In people <40 years of age without dyslipidemia and not on cholesterol-lowering therapy, testing may be infrequent (eg, every 5 years). |
A1C | Every 3 to 6 months | Goal <7% (may be lower or higher in selected patients). |
Basic metabolic profile | Annually | Includes electrolytes, BUN, creatinine, calcium, and glucose. In the presence of chronic kidney disease, may need to measure more often. |
Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio | Annually | Begin 3 to 5 years after onset of type 1 diabetes and at diagnosis in patients with type 2 diabetes; protein excretion should also be monitored if persistent albuminuria is present. |
Complete blood count, liver biochemical and function tests | Annually | May need to measure more often (eg, abnormal values, initiation of medication[s] that can affect these values). |
TSH, vitamin B12 | Annually (if indicated) | These tests may be warranted routinely in people with type 1 diabetes (TSH) and those on metformin therapy (vitamin B12). |
Vaccinations | ||
Pneumococcus | 1 or 2 doses | Administration is the same as in adults without diabetes who have risk factors for pneumococcal pneumonia. Refer to UpToDate content on pneumococcal vaccine in adults. |
Influenza | Annually | |
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) | Per CDC guidelines | Follow changing guidelines, with type 2 diabetes having markedly increased risk of complications from COVID-19 risk and type 1 diabetes having lesser increased risk of complications from COVID-19. |
Hepatitis B | 3-dose series | Administer to unvaccinated adults who are ages 19 to 59 years. For older patients, administer based upon risk of acquiring hepatitis B, including the need for assisted blood glucose monitoring and the likelihood of an adequate immune response to vaccination. |
Provide other routine vaccinations for adults with diabetes according to age-related recommendations. | ||
Education, self-management review | ||
Annually | More often at onset of diabetes and when there is a change in regimen. |
A1C: glycated hemoglobin; BMI: body mass index; BUN: blood urea nitrogen; TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone.
* When manual auscultatory method is used to measure blood pressure.
¶ Less frequent screening (every 2 to 3 years) may be appropriate for some patients (eg, patients with little or no retinopathy and near-normal A1C levels).Do you want to add Medilib to your home screen?