Living with diabetes: the five numbers worth tracking

Diabetes care goes wrong slowly and quietly. The complications that matter - kidney damage, eye damage, nerve damage, heart disease - build over years and rarely announce themselves early. Regular monitoring is what catches them while they can still be controlled.

1. HbA1c, every three to six months

This shows your average blood sugar over roughly the past three months, so one good reading on the morning of the test cannot hide a difficult quarter. Your doctor will set a target for you personally.

2. Blood pressure, at every visit

High blood pressure and diabetes together do far more damage to the kidneys and heart than either alone. This is often the single most useful thing to bring under control.

3. Kidney function, once a year

A creatinine test and a urine test for protein can pick up kidney involvement long before you feel anything.

4. Eyes, once a year

A dilated retina examination detects diabetic retinopathy at a stage when treatment still protects vision. By the time sight is affected, the options narrow.

5. Feet, at every visit and at home

Check your feet daily for cuts, blisters and colour changes, especially if sensation is reduced. A small unnoticed wound is how most serious diabetic foot problems begin.

The habits behind the numbers

Regular meals rather than long gaps, portion control on rice and roti, vegetables and dal at every meal, thirty minutes of walking most days, and taking medicines at the same time daily. Do not stop or change a dose on your own, even when the readings look good.

This article is general information and not a substitute for examination by a doctor.