Your diabetes care team and checkups

Who's on your diabetes team, and the regular checks that protect your heart, kidneys, eyes and feet: A1C, kidney tests, eye exams, foot exams, blood pressure, cholesterol and vaccines.

6 min read · last reviewed October 3, 2026

Diabetes care is a team effort, and you are the captain. You make most of the day-to-day choices. Your team is there to teach, check, adjust and support. Regular checkups are how your team spots small problems early, long before they cause trouble. This guide explains who's who, and what checks to expect.

Who is on your team?

Your team may include some or all of these people:

• You and your family. You know your life, your routines and what works for you.
• Your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Often the "home base" for your diabetes care.
• A diabetes educator. Usually a nurse or dietitian who teaches you about blood sugar checks, medicines, insulin, sick days and more.
• A dietitian. Helps you find a way of eating that fits your tastes, culture and budget.
• A pharmacist. Explains your medicines, checks for interactions and can help with supplies.
• A diabetes specialist (endocrinologist). Many people with type 1 diabetes, and some with type 2, see one.
• An eye care professional (optometrist or ophthalmologist) for eye exams.
• A foot care professional (chiropodist or podiatrist), especially if you have foot problems.
• A counsellor, psychologist or social worker for support with feelings, stress, work and costs.

Something you can do today: Write down the names and phone numbers of everyone on your team in one place.

Your regular checks

How often you need each check depends on your type of diabetes and your health. Your team will set your schedule. Here is what many adults with diabetes can expect, based on Diabetes Canada and American Diabetes Association guidelines.

A1C: your 3-month average

The A1C blood test shows your average blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months. Many people have it about every 3 months, especially when treatment is changing. If you're stable and at your target, it may be checked less often. Many adults aim for 7.0% or lower, but your team will set the target that's right for you.

Blood pressure: at every visit

High blood pressure adds strain to your heart, kidneys and eyes. Diabetes Canada suggests a target below 130/80 for most people with diabetes. Your team may set a different goal. Ask whether checking at home would help.

Cholesterol

A cholesterol blood test is usually done at diagnosis and then from time to time. Many adults with diabetes are offered a cholesterol-lowering medicine (such as a statin) to protect the heart, even when their cholesterol looks normal. Ask whether this is right for you.

Kidney tests: at least once a year

Two simple tests check your kidneys:

• eGFR, a blood test that shows how well your kidneys filter your blood.
• Urine albumin (also called the albumin-to-creatinine ratio, or ACR), a urine test that looks for small amounts of protein leaking into your pee.

Kidney damage usually has no symptoms at first, so these tests matter. For type 2 diabetes, testing starts at diagnosis. For type 1, it usually starts about 5 years after diagnosis. If a test is high, your team will usually repeat it before deciding it's a problem, since things like exercise or an infection can raise it for a short time.

Eye exam

Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels at the back of the eye (retinopathy), often with no early signs. A special eye exam, sometimes with drops or a retinal camera, can find it early.

• Type 2 diabetes: an eye exam at diagnosis, then usually every 1 to 2 years.
• Type 1 diabetes (adults): usually starting 5 years after diagnosis, then every year.

You may need exams more often if any changes are found, or during pregnancy.

Foot exam: at least once a year

Your team will look at your feet and test the feeling in them, often with a thin nylon thread (monofilament) or a tuning fork. Diabetes can reduce feeling in your feet, so you might not notice a small cut. At home, check your feet every day, using a mirror if you need to.

Something you can do today: Look at both feet tonight, including between your toes and on the soles.

Other checks

• Mood: your team may ask how you're feeling. Diabetes distress and depression are common and treatable.
• Teeth and gums: see a dentist regularly. Gum disease is more common with diabetes.
• Weight and heart health: your team may talk about your heart risk and medicines that protect it.

Vaccines

People with diabetes can get sicker from some infections. Diabetes Canada and the American Diabetes Association recommend a flu shot every year. Ask your team or pharmacist whether you also need vaccines for pneumonia (pneumococcal), COVID-19, hepatitis B, shingles or RSV. Which ones you need depends on your age, your health and where you live.

Something you can do this week: Ask your pharmacist which vaccines you are due for.

Make the most of your visits

• Bring your meter, CGM data or log book, and your medicine list.
• Ask for copies of your results, and keep track of them over time.
• If you have trouble paying for medicines or supplies, say so. There may be programs that can help.

Questions to ask your care team

• What is my A1C target, and how often should it be checked?
• What were my kidney test results (eGFR and urine albumin)?
• When is my next eye exam due, and who do I book it with?
• How do my feet look? How often should they be checked?
• What are my blood pressure and cholesterol targets?
• Which vaccines do I need this year?

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your health care team about your own situation. In an emergency, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

In an emergency, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

General information, not medical advice. It does not replace your own care team. If you think you or someone else is having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada and the US).

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