Physical Exam for Type 2 Diabetes
If your doctor suspects that you have
type 2 diabetes, he or she will do a complete physical
exam. This means he or she will:
- Measure your height and weight. For children
and teens, height and weight will be compared with what is considered normal
for their age groups.
- Check your
blood pressure.
- Check your eyes,
including movement,
pupil response to light, and the back of the eye
(retina).
- Check your
thyroid gland. Your doctor will check
this gland by feeling it while you swallow. Thyroid problems sometimes develop
in people who have diabetes.
- Listen to your heart and lung sounds
and checking your blood flow (pulse) in your arms, legs, and feet. Your doctor also may listen to the blood flow in your neck (carotid) arteries
for evidence of plaque buildup from
atherosclerosis.
- Check for a skin
condition called
acanthosis nigricans.
- Examine your feet
for sores, injuries, and decreased sensation. The health professional will
gently touch your feet and hands with a vibrating metal tuning fork and small
pieces of fine nylon fiber (microfilament testing).
- Examine your
nervous system by checking your reflexes and your ability to feel touch in your
arms, legs, and feet.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Jennifer Hone, MD - Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism |
| Last Revised | July 1, 2011 |