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What to expect and why these checks matter
Your annual diabetes review helps us keep an up-to-date picture of your health, monitor how your diabetes is affecting you and identify possible problems early.
The nurse will complete the important health checks needed for your diabetes review.
We will check your HbA1c, cholesterol and kidney function.
We will check your blood pressure, height and weight.
We will ask for a urine sample to check for early signs of kidney problems.
We will check the sensation, circulation and general health of your feet.
Each check looks at a different part of your health. Together they help us identify changes early and reduce your risk of complications.
A blood test showing your average blood glucose level over the previous 2 to 3 months.
The nurse will measure and record your blood pressure.
A blood test checks your cholesterol and other fats in your blood.
Your blood test checks how well your kidneys are working, including your creatinine and eGFR.
Your urine is checked for very small amounts of protein using an albumin:creatinine ratio, or ACR.
We will record your height and weight so your Body Mass Index, or BMI, can be calculated.
We will ask whether you currently smoke, used to smoke or have never smoked.
The nurse will check the sensation, circulation, skin and general condition of your feet and record your level of foot risk.
Your urine ACR can detect very small amounts of protein. This may be an early sign that diabetes is affecting your kidneys, even when your kidney blood tests appear normal.
A routine urine dip is not the same as a urine ACR test.
Diabetic eye screening is also very important, but it is separate from the 8 care processes carried out at your GP practice. Please continue to attend your diabetic eye screening appointments when you are invited.
Some of your results, particularly your blood and urine tests, will not be available during your nurse appointment.
Once your results are available, a GP will review them alongside all of the information collected by the nurse.
The GP will take any action that is needed. This could include:
If we need to discuss anything with you, the practice will contact you.
Completing all 8 checks gives us a much fuller picture of your health and helps us identify changes early, when there is often more we can do to prevent problems becoming serious.
If you cannot attend your appointment, please contact the practice so we can rearrange it for you.
