How often should you be tested?

Not everyone with diabetes needs the same tests at the same intervals. This is the schedule the clinic works to, following the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care — the single most useful page on this site to keep bookmarked.

Step one

Which group
are you in?

Your doctor decides this with you. These are the features that place most patients in each group.

At goal and stable

HbA1c below 7%
Blood pressure below 130/80
Cholesterol at target
Kidney and urine tests normal
No complications so far
Treatment unchanged for some time

Not at goal, or risk factors

HbA1c above 7%
Treatment recently changed
Blood pressure or cholesterol above target
Diabetes for more than 5 years
Raised albumin in the urine
Overweight — more fat, less muscle

Established complications

Kidney disease
Heart or vascular disease
Neuropathy — nerve involvement
Retinopathy — eye involvement
A previous foot ulcer or amputation
Blood pressure or glucose not controlled

Step two

The schedule.

Tap a group to see only that column — useful on a phone. Your choice is remembered on this device.

Monitoring intervals — ADA Standards of Care in Diabetes, 2026
Test	At goal & stable	Not at goal	Complications
HbA1c	Twice a year	Every 3 months	Every 3 months
Blood pressure	Every clinic visit	Every clinic visit	Every clinic visit
Weight and BMI	Every clinic visit	Every clinic visit	Every clinic visit
Lipid profile	Once a year	Once a year, or sooner	4–12 weeks after starting or changing a statin, then yearly
Kidney — eGFR and urine albumin-creatinine ratio	Once a year	Once a year	Two to four times a year
Dilated eye examination	Every 1–2 years	Once a year	As the eye specialist advises
Comprehensive foot examination	Once a year	Every 3–6 months	Every 1–3 months
Feet looked at by the doctor	Every visit	Every visit	Every visit
Sensor or CGM review	As advised	As advised	As advised

Where these come from. The intervals above follow the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care in Diabetes — 2026. Two starting points differ by type of diabetes: kidney and eye screening begin at diagnosis in type 2 diabetes, but five years after diagnosis in type 1. Thyroid function is checked at diagnosis in type 1 and periodically thereafter, and in type 2 where there is reason to. Where complications are already significant, your doctor decides the schedule — it is not set by this table. दुष्परिणाम जास्त असल्यास डॉक्टरांच्या सल्ल्याने तपासणी कधी करावी हे ठरवावे.

Step three

What you are
aiming for.

The targets behind the schedule. Yours may be different — your doctor will tell you if they are.

Blood glucose

Before meals80–130

1–2 h after a meal< 180

HbA1c< 7%

Blood pressure & weight

Blood pressure< 130/80

Higher heart or kidney riskSystolic < 120

Weight loss, if overweight5–7%

Cholesterol

LDL, with risk factors< 70

LDL, with heart disease< 55

Triglycerides< 150

If you use a sensor

Time in range 70–180> 70%

Time below 70< 4%

Time below 54< 1%

Glucose and cholesterol figures are in mg/dL. These follow the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care in Diabetes — 2026. They are the goals for most non-pregnant adults; targets are relaxed or tightened for pregnancy, for children, for older adults and where hypoglycaemia is a concern. Your own targets are set by your doctor.

Let's look at it together.

Call any of the clinic numbers before you visit to confirm timings. Existing patients — keep your Clinic ID handy so your records are ready before you arrive.

Request an appointment +91 70660 58721 WhatsApp 70660 58722 Somesh Colony, Behind Kalamandir,
Nanded – 431601