Screening for Diabetes Complications

Regular diabetes check-ups and routine screenings are highly recommended to check your child's diabetes control and to help prevent or provide early treatment for medical complications.

Research has proven that children and teens with diabetes who see their diabetes team on a quarterly basis (four times per year) have better average blood sugars, fewer hospitalizations and healthier outcomes than children who only come once or twice a year.

Children with diabetes are at risk for developing complications and associated problems. At each visit to the Diabetes Center, your child is screened for:

• Growth problems based on height, weight, BMI
• High blood pressure
• Foot problems and changes in sensation
• Overall blood sugar control with a HbA1c
• Once a year, your child will need to have extra screening tests to look for early signs of other complications. These tests include:
• Dilated eye exam for diabetic retinopathy
• Fasting lipid profile for high cholesterol
• Urine test for microalbuminuria
• Thyroid function tests
• Celiac panel
• Vitamin D

Some of these will be blood and urine tests and for others you will need to make an appointment outside of the Diabetes Center.