I recently received a patient at my clinic named Um Ahmed, a woman in her fifties who has been living with diabetes for over 8 years.
When I asked her about the last time she checked her HbA1c (average blood sugar level), she replied, “About a year ago, doctor.”

Unfortunately, the test results showed her blood sugar was uncontrolled, and some complications had already started to appear.
All of this could have been avoided if she had followed up regularly — a situation we see all too often, whether with diabetic patients or those with hypertension.

Most patients neglect follow-up visits simply because they “don’t feel any symptoms,” when in reality, their bodies may already be going through serious changes and complications.

That’s why regular monitoring of chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure is essential. These conditions don’t just disappear; they can only be controlled through consistent follow-up and adherence to routine health measures.

Regular follow-ups are not just routine visits to the doctor — they are your first line of defense against health risks. They allow you to:

• Detect early changes in your health before they develop into serious problems.

• Adjust your treatment plan accurately and at the right time based on your current needs.

• Prevent severe complications such as strokes, kidney disease, and vision problems.

Common cases we see every day at the clinic:

• A diabetic patient who’s not consistent with medication:
  They come in after a long gap without follow-up, and when we check, their HbA1c is over 10%! Most of them already have symptoms like numbness in the feet or blurred vision.

• A hypertensive patient who stopped medication on their own:
  They think their blood pressure is back to normal, so they quit their meds. Months later, they return with a mild stroke or persistent headaches.

• A patient with both diabetes and hypertension:
  This group requires very close monitoring because having both conditions significantly increases the risk of heart and kidney diseases.