Why are all the tests done at the same time in a package?

It is advisable to get all the tests done at once as it gives us a snapshot of how advanced the diabetes is and what the complications are at the present moment. It also helps the doctors to prioritize the care of diabetes.

What are the diabetes health checks? How are they different from other health checks available online?

Diabetes health checks at Magna have been put together by our team of certified Endocrinologists with the focus being the patient. These diabetes health check packages cover all the essential requirements for clinical decision making to make the job of the doctor and patient easy. These diabetes health packages are often called code profiles. The advantage of doing the Dia profile in our clinic will be that the results will be available within half to 1-hour and one can meet the doctor in the same office visit with the reports. The diabetes health packages include retina examination using a fundus camera, a vibration perception threshold examination, a foot risk assessment in selected patients, 12 ECG in addition to routine blood work.

What is the blood work included in our annual diabetes health checks?

The available blood work will vary depending upon the package one has chosen. You can discuss this at our clinic regarding the same. All diabetes annual health checks will cover the essential requirements:

Urine albumin Creatinine ratio or urine routine
Lipid profile
Serum creatinine or estimated GFR
Complete blood count.
Liver enzymes

Our annual diabetes examinations are different from those provided online by the fact that we assess for the presence of complications of diabetes like retinopathy or retinal disease due to diabetes, the presence of loss of sensation in the foot and deformities and blood flow abnormalities in the lower limbs. These aspects are not covered in blood tests and they are office procedures which can be done only by trained paramedics in a healthcare facility.

What is a fundus photograph and how is it important in your management of type2 diabetes?

There is a strong recommendation from all professional associations of type2 diabetes doctors to make sure that the patient gets their eyes examined at least once annually, especially for the presence of retinal disease. In our centres, we easily achieve this via a simple two minute procedure with or without administration of eyedrops to dilate the pupils. These regional images are then reported by retina experts and we will pass on the results to you via Mail. You will also get your retinal images mailed to you.

How do you benefit from retinal imaging?

Retinal imaging can detect the formation of small out poaching of blood vessels or weakness in the blood vessel wall called Microaneurysm in the eye. If there are too many microaneurysms, laser treatment of the retina is required to prevent any sudden leakage of blood from these weak blood vessels. Studies have shown that a timely laser treatment can save vision in patients with type 2 diabetes and retinal disease.

As part of your annual physical examination for type2 diabetes, we will determine whether you have an at risk foot. We consider patients to have an at risk foot, if either the blood flow to the foot is compromised or the sensation in the foot is lost or if there is deformity in the lower limb.

What is ABI and how does it assess blood flow to the lower limbs?

Ankle brachial index refers to the careful measurement of blood pressure in all four limbs and the ratio of ankle BP to the brachial or hand BP is calculated. This ratio indicates the inductance of blood flow to the lower limbs and it is a very important screening test. Many patients who do not have any symptoms have initially a lower ankle brachial index and would go on to develop symptoms after many years. Early detection can help us manage these patients with preventive steps. Ankle brachial index is done as an office procedure by our expert technicians.

What is the vibration perception threshold? How was it performed? How will it help you?

We measure the sensitivity of the patient's nerves, especially the lower limbs by using sophisticated equipment called a vibrometer. The level of sensation that is present in the lower limbs is measured in millivolts. If higher millivolts are required for a patient to feel the sensation the limb is likely to have a lesser sensation. The value of above 25 mV would indicate an insensate foot or a foot at risk for getting ulceration. VPT is performed as part of all our annual diabetes health checks so we can track the progression of any minor damage to the nerves that are otherwise not perceived by patients. Knowing that you have poor sensation in the foot helps you take defensive action in the form of using appropriate footwear. You can also examine your foot daily for the presence of injuries or infections.

Do I need to get a diabetes health check done quite often?

Our diabetes health checks are annual and you need not perform any of the tests, once performed repeatedly every few months. However, we do recommend the HbA1c test every time you visit a doctor.

You should meet your doctor every three months once your blood glucose values are around the control/at goal. You will be asked to meet more often if the blood glucose values are higher, in order to adjust the medication appropriately. Even between office visits our diabetes educator nurse will be in touch with you on-demand, to steer the treatment of type two diabetes.