Diabetes is a complex disorder. Hence after you are diagnosed with diabetes, a complete evaluation of your condition by a specialist doctor is essential. The first evaluation may include the following.
- Physical examination
- Height & Weight
- Body mass Index (BMI) Formula : BMI = Weight in kg 2 divided by height in meters square.
- For eg. If your weight is 80 kg and height is 1.70m, then your BMI is 80 – 1.7 x 1.7 = 27. Refer to BMI table
- Another formula to calculate ideal body weight is (Height in cms (minus) – 100) x 0.9
- An important risk factor for diabetes and heart diseases is central abdominal obesity. This has to evaluated using waist to hip ratio (WHR). The cut off values for waist circumference are 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women. (i.e. abnormal WHR values for men is more than 0.9 and more than 0.8 for women). To get the WHR, divide waist circumference by Hip circumferene. High, abnormal WHR values indicate central obesity.
- The diet regimen planning including calorie requirement has to be worked out.
- Blood pressure will be recorded in supine and upright positions.
- The patient is checked for peripheral vascular disease.
- Thorough foot examination (including neurological) is carried out.
- Teeth and gums are examined for infection.
- Areas around the eyes are to be examined for yellow deposits of fat (xanthelasma) and areas around elbow, ankle and gluteal region one to be examined for yellow swellings or nodules of fat.
- Skin is to be examined for infections.
- Eyes are to be examined for cataract and other problems.
- Genitals are to be examined for infections.
