Each year, there are a number of health checks that those living with diabetes are entitled to. These health checks are to be competed in order to reduce your risk of developing any serious diabetes complications such as issues with your sight (retinopathy), kidney problems (nephropathy), or foot problems.
Watch this short video for details about the 15 Essential Health Checks:
The 15 Essential Health Checks are:
Blood glucose test (HbA1c) It is good practice to regularly monitor your own blood glucose levels. To better understand your results, view our HbA1c conversion table.
Blood pressure check Further information about how to prevent high blood pressure can be found here.
Cholesterol check
Eye screening Information about the Essex Diabetic Eye Screening Programme can be found here.
Kidney tests Read about the importance of urine testing here.
Foot and leg checks For advice on how to check your own feet and what to look for, click here.
Emotional and psychological support We have compiled a list of useful resources about mental health and wellbeing. View it here.
Diabetes education NEEDS offer Type 1 and Type 2 patient education sessions at a variety of different community settings and times. View them here.
Care from diabetes specialists The NEEDS team is made up of nurse consultants, diabetic specialist nurses, dietitians, community diabetologists, podiatrists, a mental health practitioner and administrators.
Free flu jab
Inpatient care Read our news article about the diabetes inpatient care at Colchester General Hospital.
We can all help control the virus is we all stay alert. This means:
stay at home as much as possible
work from home if you can
limit contact with other people
keep your distance if you go out – 2 metres apart where possible
wash your hands regularly
Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.
What to do if you have coronavirus symptoms:
Continue to stay at home if you have either:
a new continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours, if you usually have a cough it may be worse than usual
a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back, you do not need to measure your temperature
loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Do NOT go to your GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital – stay at home.
