Living with diabetes can feel overwhelming. When you see your doctor, you’ll want to make sure it’s a productive and useful visit. I recently wrote a guide for Healthline on how to get the most out of your doctor’s visit for diabetes. Here’s a summary.
Prepare for the visit
- If you track your blood sugar (glucose) readings at home, bring that info to the visit
- Prepare a list of all medications that you take for diabetes and other health conditions. Include the dose and how often you take the medications. Or bring the actual bottles.
- Write down any questions you have for the doctor.
On the day of your visit
- Unless you’re told otherwise, take all your usual medications on the day of your visit
- Likewise, make sure you know whether your doctor wants you fast (e.g. skip breakfast or lunch) before your appointment. The A1C and most cholesterol tests will not be affected by what you’ve eaten recently. But blood glucose and triglycerides will spike shortly after eating.
- Wear clothing that will make it easy to be examined. This means wearing a top that you can remove or one with loose sleeves that you can roll up for the blood pressure measurement. Make sure you can easily remove your socks and shoes so the doctor can examine your foot for nerve problems, calluses, infections, and ulcers.
During your visit
- Be honest about any difficulties with taking or paying for your diabetes medications. The doctor needs to know in order to help you. I usually ask my patients about medications in several different ways. If you’re having trouble paying for your medications, there are coupons, assistance programs, and other ways to make them more affordable.
- Ditto for nutrition and exercise. Don’t sugar-coat it. If you’re having trouble eating healthy or staying physically active, let your doctor know.
- Be proactive and ask your doctor if you’re getting the most appropriate treatment. Am I on the best diabetes medications for me? What are the potential side effects?
- Although much of your time and energy may be focused on physical health, don’t neglect your mental health. If you feel anxious or depressed, your doctor can connect you with a counselor or peer support group.
A little preparation and a willingness to ask for help will allow you to get the most out of your doctor’s visit for diabetes.
