Published: 27 March, 2025 Staying on top of your diabetes health checks is one of the best things you can do for your health. Regular checks help you stay well and give you feedback on your health targets and diabetes management. They can also detect health problems early—when they’re easier to treat—and reduce your risk of diabetes-related complications. Let’s take a closer look at the recommended diabetes health checks and why each of these checks matter. HbA1c check HbA1c (or glycosylated haemoglobin) is a blood test that reflects your average blood glucose levels over the last 10 to 12 weeks. The general HbA1c target is less than or equal to 7% (53 mmol/mol). Why it matters: high blood glucose levels over time damage your blood vessels and other parts of your body such as your eyes, kidneys, and feet. A regular HbA1c check is one of the most important pieces of diabetes management information. It tells you and your doctor how well your diabetes management plan is working. How often: HbA1c checks are recommended every 3 to 6 months, however this based on the type of diabetes you have and your diabetes management goals. Blood pressure check Blood pressure checks help monitor how much force your heart needs to push blood around your body to make sure it’s not too high. The general blood pressure target is 130/80 – 140/90 mmHg or less. Why it matters: high blood pressure puts strain on your heart and blood vessels. You can still feel healthy with high blood pressure. Regular checks help you and your doctor to monitor your blood pressure and treat it if it’s too high. This helps to reduce your risk of a stroke, and problems developing with your heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. How often: blood pressure checks are recommended every 6 to 12 months, or as advised by your doctor. Weight management check Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference are used to assess weight management. The general targets are below, however, your target should be individual and based on your diabetes management goals. There is no one-size-fits-all. BMI is a measure used around the world to classify body weight for adults based on their height and weight. General population target*: between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2. Waist circumference is a good predictor of total body fat, in particular, visceral body fat (the fat that surrounds your organs). Men: less than 94 cm Women: less than 80 cm *Targets may differ for different population groups. Why it matters: too much body fat around your waist increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Losing 5 to 10% of body weight in people with overweight or obesity can reduce blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood fat levels. How often: weight management checks are recommended every 6 months, or as advised by your doctor. Blood fat check There are two types of fats found in the blood called cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol is made up of ‘good’ HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and ‘bad’ LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Triglycerides mainly come from the foods you eat, although your body can make them when excess food is eaten. Why it matters: high levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Having diabetes also increases this risk. Regular checks help you and your doctor decide how best to manage your blood fats if they are above your target. Often this is through diet, exercise and sometimes medication. How often: blood fat checks are recommended at least once a year, or as advised by your doctor. Foot health check Diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet, which can cause a loss of feeling in them. Diabetes can also reduce the amount of blood flow to your feet and delay wound healing. This can increase your risk for foot infections. Why it matters: knowing your feet is key to keeping them healthy and identifying any foot changes or issues early. Regular foot health checks with your doctor, podiatrist or credentialled diabetes educator will reduce your risk of serious foot problems that could lead to an amputation (loss of a limb). How often: general foot checks are recommended every 6 to 12 months but may be more often depending on your risk. Talk to your doctor to determine your foot risk and check your feet every day for any changes. Kidney health check Kidneys play an important role as they filter the waste products from the blood and help regulate blood pressure. There are two tests to check your kidney health. A urine test called an albumin-creatinine ratio or ACR test checks for protein in your urine. A blood test called an estimated glomerular filtration rate or eGFR checks how well your kidneys are filtering and cleaning your blood. Why it matters: diabetes increases your risk for kidney disease. Early stages of kidney disease may have no symptoms. But having regular kidney checks identifies kidney problems early, especially if you have high blood pressure or blood glucose levels. Early treatment also stops kidney problems from getting worse. How often: kidney health checks are recommended at least once a year, or as advised by your doctor. Eye health check Diabetes can cause damage to the small vessels at the back of the eye which can lead to impaired vision or blindness. Why it matters: eye damage can happen without symptoms. Regular eye checks by an optometrist or eye specialist and keeping your HbA1c and blood pressure within your recommended targets will help reduce the risk of eye damage. How often: eye checks are based on the risk of eye damage occurring or getting worse. Risk of eye damage increases with duration of diabetes, high HbA1c and blood pressure levels. Talk to your doctor about your risk. Low risk of eye damage: eye check at least every 2 years. Higher risk of eye damage: eye check at least once a year. Emotional wellbeing check Living with diabetes can be overwhelming at times, and looking after your emotional health is as important as any other diabetes health check. Talk to your doctor if you feel anxious or distressed. They can help you find ways to manage how you feel and help you access extra support. Why it matters: talking to your doctor when you feel anxious or distressed will help you stay on top of your emotional health and diabetes management. You may be eligible to access subsidised mental health services through Medicare with a mental healthcare plan. Talk to your doctor about your eligibility. How often: as often as needed. Healthy eating and physical activity check Healthy eating and regular physical activity are key to managing diabetes well. Healthy eating includes: limiting alcohol intake, saturated fat, salt and added sugars eating whole grains, vegetables, fruit, lean protein, and healthy fats. Regular physical activity* includes: at least 30 minutes of moderate activity (such as brisk walking or swimming) at least 5 days a week (minimum of 150 minutes per week) at least 2 muscle-strengthening activities (such as lifting weights) a week reducing long periods of inactivity by moving every 30 minutes. *Always talk to your doctor before starting any new physical activity. Why it matters: healthy eating and regular physical activity helps you manage blood glucose levels, blood pressure, weight, emotional wellbeing, and heart disease risk. How often: your healthy eating and physical activity plans should be reviewed at least once a year. Talk to your doctor about a referral to an: accredited practising dietitian to help you develop and review your healthy eating plan exercise physiologist to help you develop and review your physical activity plan. Other important health checks Dental health: diabetes increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Regular check-ups with your dentist at least once a year help to keep your teeth and gums healthy. They can also find any problems early, making treatment easier (and less expensive in the long term). Sleep health: the quality and quantity of your sleep can be affected by diabetes. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your sleep, especially if you have unexplained and excessive tiredness. Medication review: ask your doctor to review your medications each year to make sure they are still meeting your health management goals. You may also be eligible for a free Home Medication Review from your local pharmacy. Vaccination status: annual vaccinations are recommended for people with diabetes. Ask your doctor if you are up to date with your vaccinations. Sick day management: regularly review your sick day management plan to make sure it’s up to date. Smoking status: if you smoke, it is strongly recommended you talk to your doctor about quitting or call Quitline 13 78 48. To help with the costs of your diabetes health checks, talk to your doctor about your eligibility for a General practitioner Management Plan (GPMP). Regular diabetes health checks are tools to help you manage your diabetes well. Be proactive with these health checks, don’t wait until you have symptoms before you see your doctor. Regular monitoring will help stay on track with your diabetes management goals, improve your quality of life, and reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. Helpful links and resources: Find a Health Service to book your diabetes health checks. KeepSight: an eye check reminder program and resource for people with diabetes. FootForward: a foot health information hub for people with diabetes. Sick day action plans and information
