Hangzhou
Dental & Diabetes Check-up

Endocrinology review

Before any dental treatment, so the dentist knows how well your diabetes is controlled.

• Consultation with an endocrinologist, with an interpreter
• Blood tests such as HbA1c, fasting glucose and kidney function
• Review of your medicines and how to take them around dental appointments
• Written summary for the dentist and for your doctor at home

Dental examination & plan

Nothing is treated until the plan and price are confirmed in writing.

• Examination by a specialist dentist, including gum pocket measurements
• Panoramic X-ray, or a CBCT 3D scan if implants are being considered
• Written treatment plan with materials and itemised price
• Chance to ask questions and say no before treatment starts

Dental check-up & cleaning

The basics, done properly, with the gums looked at closely.

• Scale and polish; gum assessment
• Fillings or a simple extraction if needed
• Advice on whether implants or gum treatment would suit you
• Written plan you can use at home or on a later trip

Records & handover

So your dentist and your diabetes doctor at home both know what was done.

• Written summary in English of the dental and endocrinology visits
• X-rays, scans and blood test results to take home
• Implant brand, model and size recorded where relevant
• Follow-up video call with your coordinator after you return

West Lake & Su Causeway

The lake that has inspired Chinese poets and painters for centuries, crossed by the willow-lined Su Causeway.

Tip: Walk the causeway after lunch, or take a boat to the islands.

Longjing tea village

Terraced tea fields in the hills above the lake, where farmers grow and roast Longjing green tea.

Tip: Unsweetened green tea is a good drink for blood sugar; buy a little to take home.

Lingyin Temple

One of China's best-known Buddhist temples, with Buddhas carved into the cliffs of Feilai Feng beside it.

Tip: Mostly flat, with some steps; go early to avoid the crowds.

Hefang Street

A restored old shopping street with traditional pharmacies, teahouses and snack stalls.

Tip: Many snacks here are sweet; look for savoury dumplings instead.

Eating after treatment

Soft food, but not only rice. Plain rice congee and noodles raise blood sugar quickly; add egg, tofu, fish or soft vegetables, and keep to your usual meal times so your medicines still match what you eat.

Checking glucose

Check more often in the days after treatment. Pain or infection can push glucose up, while eating less than usual can bring it down. Carry glucose tablets or juice for lows, and follow your own diabetes team's sick-day advice.

Watching the wound

Some swelling and tenderness are normal. Swelling that gets worse after the third day, pus, fever or a bad taste can mean infection, which can move faster with diabetes. Tell your coordinator straight away.

Walking & your feet

Walking after meals helps blood sugar, and these routes are planned around flat, easy walks. Wear comfortable shoes you've already broken in, and check your feet each evening if you have neuropathy.