Sweet - Complication Screening
Complication Screening
Eye, nerve and kidney disease are complications of diabetes. Complications are not something that just happens in the oldies, they can also happen to young people with diabetes. Pretty scary hey! Well it doesn’t have to happen to you.
There is good evidence to show that by keeping your diabetes under control you can reduce the chances of this happening at all. The other good news is that by having regular checks (complication screening) by your doctor any early signs of problems can be treated. Sometimes this means that early problems can be reversed and others can be prevented from progressing any further.
Important: If you are not attending a diabetes specialist, then ask your GP to arrange these tests. Either download a Fact Sheet or print the ‘Complication Screening’ card and take it with you to your next appointment with your GP. If any of the tests are positive your GP should refer you to a diabetes specialist immediately.
Type 1 Diabetes
When to Start Screening?
Complication screening in young people with Type 1 diabetes should start once they have started puberty and have had diabetes for at least 2 years. Screening can also detect some medical problems that are more common in young people with Type 1 diabetes, like Thyroid and Coeliac Disease.
What screening tests need to be done?
Type 2 Diabetes
When to Start Screening?
Complication screening in young people with Type 2 diabetes should start you are first diagnosed.
What screening tests need to be done?
Complication Screening Guidelines for Parents of young people with Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes have been developed and even though they were originally designed for parents you will find them useful so print a copy and keep it in your BG record book.
Download the Complication Screening tool.
These screening tools are also available by contacting the Mater Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
