Free Chart: Diabetes Management for Best Health

I'm so happy to welcome Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, FAND, to the blog today. As soon as I read her article, Updated Diabetes Health Maintenance Schedule, I just knew that I had to share it with you right away! So check out this fantastic guide to managing diabetes, and don't miss the free PDF chart that accompanies the post...Diabetes management is so much more than measuring blood glucose. Your healthy future means taking care of every part of your body.The chart below will help you keep track of all the required routine tests and activities. It features the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2015 general targets for most people with diabetes. These are not the ideal goals for each person with diabetes, so be certain to discuss your individualized goals with your healthcare team. Record your results each time you visit the doctor or have lab work done.What will you be tracking? This chart features...

• A1C
• Blood glucose
• Blood pressure
• Dental exam and cleaning
• Eye exam
• Flu vaccine
• Foot exam
• Kidney health
  • Urine protein
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
• Lipid panel
  • Includes cholesterol and triglycerides
• Pneumonia vaccine

So, without further ado, here is the Updated Diabetes Health Maintenance Schedule Chart!Would you like a free PDF copy of this chart? You're in luck! Here's one!Here's another version, split into two pages for easy printing...But wait, there's more! Some of these recommendations have changed since the last round of ADA guidelines. That's what the asterisks on the chart stand for -- areas of change. To find out what's new about the 2015 version and why, drop by the member-exclusive post A Closer Look at the ADA’s General Targets for Diabetics. It even comes with this fantastic PDF handout!Note from a Reader: After this post went live, Susanne M. Luchetti, MS,LDN,CCP reached out to inform me that "insurance companies are required to communicate with their members about these required tests and track who has this diagnosis (as well as the other top 6) who have not completed all of these tests. The members receive letters in the mail when they miss their due date for each test, automatic voice messages reminding them to schedule their tests, and a live call from an RN for those who do not get all of these tests. The insurance company knows who has not done their preventive screenings through claims." Thank you so much for that information Susanne!There are also lots of great diabetes resources in the Nutrition Education Store. Here are some of the most popular materials...* Asterisks on the chart signify areas that have changed in the 2015 edition of these guidelines.