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Key Screenings for Diabetes and Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Patients

Regular check-ups are a crucial part of maintaining your health. If you have diabetes or cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKM), routine screenings help you understand how your body is functioning and whether treatment is helping to improve your health. They also allow you to monitor and manage these conditions effectively.

Here are the recommended screenings you should be aware of.

Diabetes screenings

Living with diabetes means keeping track of your health. Monitoring blood glucose levels, focusing on a healthier lifestyle, and taking medications will become critical in helping keep things under control and drive improved health in the long run. Another significant thing to keep up with is the results of regular health screenings. These preventive checks are vital because diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, can increase your risk of developing serious complications affecting your heart, kidneys, and eyes. Staying on top of these screenings is just as essential as managing your daily diabetes care. 

  • Every 3 to 6 Months
    • A1C test to check blood sugar levels
    • Check blood pressure and weight
    • Review of self-care plan and medications
    • Foot check if you have a history of diabetes-related foot problems
  • Annual Screenings and Tests:
    • Flu vaccination: People with diabetes have weaker immune systems and can get sicker from the flu, which can affect their blood sugar. Research shows the flu vaccine effectively reduces diabetes-related flu hospitalizations by 79%.
    • Kidney function tests: High blood sugar levels can damage the kidneys’ blood vessels. Screenings can show how well the kidneys filter waste from the blood.
    • Cholesterol screening to understand any heart disease risks due to high cholesterol
    • Diabetes can affect how other parts of your body function, so it’s important to check your hearing, eye, skin and oral health through:
      • A comprehensive eye exam with dilation (more frequently if eye problems exist) to check for any vision loss and blindness issues due to diabetes.
      • Hearing evaluation. People with diabetes are twice as likely to experience hearing loss, and prediabetic people have a 30% chance of developing hearing loss. Evaluating your hearing health will help you understand and address potential issues.
      • Complete foot examination (more frequent if foot problems exist), as diabetes can lead to changes in the foot shape and ulcers and nerve damage in the legs and feet.
      • Dental check-ups to ensure oral health is in good shape (frequency may vary; inform the dentist about diabetes)

Remember to keep your healthcare providers/specialists informed about your diabetes diagnosis and any changes in your health between scheduled visits.

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome screenings

CKM syndrome impacts the heart, kidneys, and metabolism (all the physical and chemical processes in the body that change or use energy). When these vital systems do not function properly, your risk of developing the conditions that lead to CKM syndrome, diabetes, and heart and kidney disease increases. 

Your provider may use the following tests to understand your health and potential risks.

  • Blood work that includes:
    • Blood sugar tests (glucose and A1C) to check for diabetes risk
    • Tests that measure how well your kidneys function (like creatinine and BUN) 
    • Levels of essential minerals in your blood
    • Tests to check liver health
  • Heart health screenings
    • Blood pressure readings
    • Cholesterol panel that measures both “good” (HDL) and “bad” (LDL) cholesterol, plus other fats in your blood
    • An electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart’s electrical activity
    • Your body roundness index (measurement of your height, waist size, and hip size to determine how you store body fat) 
  • Other key tests
    • Urine tests to check for protein and other signs of kidney problems
    • Blood tests for uric acid levels. The kidneys filter uric acid through urine. High uric acid levels in the blood may indicate that your kidneys are working properly. These high levels can also lead to gout, a type of arthritis that causes severe pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in joints.

How often you need these tests depends on your health status.

Most people with CKM syndrome get a complete set of tests annually. Your current health and potential risk factors are categorized from Stage 0, meaning no risk of CKM, to Stage 4, which indicates advanced CKM with cardiovascular disease and possible kidney failure. The frequency of your screenings will depend on your stage, with more frequent tests for those in advanced stages to monitor their condition closely. 

CKM screening by stage: 

  • Every three to five years in Stage 0
  • Every two to three years in Stage 1
  • Once a year in Stage 2 and beyond

If you have conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, your doctor will likely check certain levels more often to monitor your health more closely. For example, someone with diabetes might need blood sugar checks every 3-6 months. People with reduced kidney function typically need frequent monitoring to catch any changes quickly.

These regular checks work like a health radar system — they detect small changes early, allowing your healthcare team to adjust treatments before serious problems develop. This emphasis on early detection helps you stay vigilant and aware of potential health issues, contributing to maintaining or improving your overall health.

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Sources:

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