Diabetes monitoring

MinuteClinic providers are trained to administer tests and perform examinations to monitor and help you treat your type 2 diabetes. They can review and explain the key health indicators to you. The results will help to monitor how well you’re managing your diabetes between visits to your primary care provider.

1. You may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:

   If you made your appointment online:
   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic:
   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment:
   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and ZIP code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

The A1C test is a blood test used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes and to screen for prediabetes. It’s also used to monitor how well you’re managing your blood sugar (glucose) levels. The test also goes by other names, including hemoglobin A1C and HbA1C

An A1C test result will show the average blood glucose level for approximately the preceding 3 months. Specifically, it shows what percentage of your hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen) was coated with glucose (glycated hemoglobin). The higher the A1C level, the weaker your body's blood sugar control, and the higher your risk of diabetes complications.

A1C test results show the average of your blood glucose levels for the preceding 3 months. The higher the A1C level, the weaker your body's glycemic control, and the higher the risk of complications. The results of your A1C test help you and your health care provider to manage treatment.

The fact that blood cells have a lifespan of approximately 3 months makes the A1C test particularly useful. Your body produces new blood cells all the time, every day. At any given time, there are newly created blood cells, 1-day-old cells, 2-week-old cells, and so on (up to about 3 months) circulating inside you. Every blood cell carries a “record” of glucose levels in the form of glycated hemoglobin.

Suppose that your blood glucose was high last week or last month, and it's reading as healthy now. The A1C test can show your average blood glucose level over the past 3 months. Although A1C is not accurate for any given day, it is a reliable indicator of how effective blood sugar control has been over that time.

A1C test results display percentage numbers. The higher the number, the higher your blood glucose level. A person without diabetes will have approximately 5% of their hemoglobin glycated.

What do the numbers mean?

• 5.6% or below means normal
• 5.7 to 6.4% indicates prediabetes
• 6.5% or above means diabetes

It’s recommended that people with diabetes undergo A1C testing at least twice a year. For type 1 diabetes patients, more frequent (such as every 3 months) testing is advised. This is particularly true if you and your doctor are adjusting treatment, setting blood sugar level targets or if you are pregnant.

Diabetes patients are at higher risk of having elevated blood pressure (hypertension). The blood pressure goal for most people with diabetes is to maintain a BP below 140/90 mm Hg.

When discussing body weight as it relates to diabetes, it usually refers to your body mass index. BMI is a measure of body fat in proportion to height and weight. High body fat may increase the chances of developing diabetes. If you have diabetes, extra weight puts you at a higher risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease.

2 types of cholesterol are in the bloodstream:

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

LDL is the undesirable kind of cholesterol that can build up plaque and clog your arteries which, if left untreated, can cause a heart attack or stroke. HDL is the “good” kind that helps clear LDL from your blood vessels, keeping arteries open and your blood flowing more freely.

Diabetes increases the risk of kidney disease, and a micro albumin analysis can detect early signs. Healthy kidneys filter out waste materials from your blood and keep the essential components, such as proteins. When the kidneys become damaged, albumin is one of the first proteins to leak and exit the body in urine. Early detection can prevent or delay more advanced kidney issues.

A complication of diabetes is neuropathy (nerve damage), which causes loss of sensation in your feet or other extremities. Nerve damage is typical among diabetic patients because high blood glucose damages nerves. It is important to have a comprehensive foot examination to minimize your risk of severe foot conditions, which may include ulcers, infections and vascular disease.

Based on the results of the examination and tests, your MinuteClinic provider can provide support and recommendations for managing your diabetes.