We know that cars need regular maintenance, and if we ignore those needs we pay the price down the line. I remember a friend that purchased a new Mustang when she was about 19 years old. She loved it and drove it with pride. Unfortunately, she never took it in for an oil change or regular maintenance. It blew an engine at a very young age.

Many people treat their bodies like my 19-year-old friend treated her car. They just expect them to keep going and going, and don’t take the time for regular checkups and preventive care. Unfortunately, too often they pay a dear price down the line.

People with diabetes can’t afford to do this. When you see your doctor or diabetes educator they will recommend several regular self-care behaviors and regular check-ups. This is because diabetes increases your risk of several health issues. If you are doing good preventive maintenance and care, you are less likely to develop these issues, and if you develop them you will find them earlier when they are easier to treat.

March is both National Kidney Month and Save Your Vision Month. So I thought I would focus on eyes and kidneys today.

If you have not had an eye exam in the past year, schedule an appointment to see your eye doctor. Make sure your eye doctor knows that you are diabetic, since a more complete eye exam is recommended to find any issues early before they cause damage to your eyes. A simple yearly urine test for microalbumin can identify kidney damage at its very earliest stages.

By getting these painless tests done every year, your doctor and you can make adjustments to your treatment plan which can help keep your kidneys and eyes healthy. Remember that both your eyes and your kidneys also benefit from good blood glucose control and good blood pressure control.

Paula Enstrom, RN, Certified Diabetic Educator