The hemoglobin A1C blood test (HbA1c) measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. The test can be used to diagnose diabetes or tell you if you are at a higher risk for developing diabetes. It’s also an important part of managing your diabetes. It helps your doctor see how well your diabetes is under control. Why You Need This Test [...]

People living with diabetes are at greater risk for high cholesterol and heart disease. There’s no way to know if you have cholesterol so make sure to ask your doctor to check yours. Certain drugs, called statins, can help lower your risk and protect your heart. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about what medications are right for you and about how to protect yourself fro [...]

A blood pressure reading measures the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Your blood travels through your body to supply oxygen and nutrients to your organs and tissue. But when our blood vessels harden, it can make it harder for your blood to move through them, resulting in high blood pressure. Checking your blood pressure regularly is one of the most import [...]

Colorectal cancer screening checks for polyps in your colon or rectum that may develop into cancer. Polyps are common in adults over 50 and most don’t turn into cancer. But some do, particularly a type of polyp called an adenoma. Colorectal cancer screening not only helps doctors catch cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat, but also helps prevent cancer. Don’t put off this importan [...]

Getting your kidney function tested is a key part of keeping you healthy if you have diabetes. Diabetes can sometimes damage your kidneys and lead to kidney disease. A test for proteins in your urine (sometimes called a dipstick test) can help your doctors see if you have the disease. A sample of your urine is taken and measured for small amounts of a protein called albumin (the main protein in [...]

A bone mineral density test uses an X-ray or heel ultrasound to see how dense or thick your bones are. The test also checks to see if you are at risk for osteoporosis. When you have osteoporosis, your bones get weak and thin. It’s sometimes called a silent condition because you feel no symptoms. Without a bone mineral density test, you may not know you have osteoporosis until you break or fract [...]

Your Annual Wellness Visit should be the first visit you have with your doctor each year. This visit gives you a great opportunity to discuss your overall health with your doctor and set health goals for the coming year. The Annual Wellness Visit is not a routine physical or a "sick" visit. It's a special kind of office visit, included at no additional cost to you when you see a doctor [...]

Getting a flu shot every year is the best way to protect yourself, your community and those you love from the flu. You won't get the flu from the flu shot. But it does spur your body to produce antibodies that will protect you from the illness. It takes about two weeks from the time you get your flu shot for it to work. That’s why it’s so important to get your flu shot early in the flu season. [...]

This year, the Florida Blue Centers are committed to providing classes to our communities that can help everyone live a more centered and fulfilling life. Tune in each month to find out what’s happening in your neighborhood! Conversation with Care- Summer Safety on Saturday, July 14th at 12 p.m. Join your Neighborhood Nurse to learn more about how to stay safe during [...]

A mammogram is a safe, low-dose X-ray of the breast tissue. It’s used to find small tumors that you or your doctor may not feel in a clinical or self-breast exam. Mammograms are the best way for doctors to detect early signs of breast cancer. Why You Need It [...]