Dealing with diabetes is hard. Dealing with it alone is even harder, if not outright dangerous. So having a diabetes doctor on your side is a must to fight the disease successfully. But for the doctor to be able to offer the best help, you must be ready to provide maximum information and to answer all questions the doctor may ask you about yourself and your condition during your visit. Here we are going to give you some advice on how to get the most out of your meeting with the diabetes doctor.

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Prepare the information

Doctors usually don’t have the whole day, so you need to be ready to share all of the essential information as quickly as possible. First, describe all the symptoms, problems and diabetes complications you're experiencing and if you record your blood sugar levels, present this data as well. Make sure to bring to your appointment the full list of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements you are taking for all your health conditions, along with the list of the diabetes medications that you used to take in the past. If you recently had any vaccines or any medical procedures, you should also mention it. Besides, you should tell about your diet and exercise habits. – All that will help your doctor prescribe the best treatment for you.

Prepare yourself

Before the day of your appointment, contact your doctor’s office to inquire whether or not you should take all the medications that you usually take and if you should eat prior to the visit. The latter is important if the doctor is planning to test your triglyceride and blood glucose levels, which usually go up after eating. The doctor’s office staff may ask you what medications you are currently taking to make sure that it’s safe for you to skip the meal. You should also wear clothes and footwear that you can easily remove for the doctor to examine you and if you use help of a caregiver, have this person with you at the appointment to assist you.

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Have your questions ready …and be ready to write down the answers

Being educated about your condition, plays a big role in managing diabetes. So your goal is to ask the doctor everything that you believe should help you take control of the disease. Among some of the important questions that people should ask their diabetes doctors are:

• How can I know that my blood sugar is too high or too low?
• What do I do if my blood sugar is too high or too low?
• What the range of blood sugar level I should achieve and maintain?
• How do I check my blood sugar level at home?
• How often should I check my blood sugar level?
• What blood sugar monitor do you recommend?
• Do I always have to take my medications?
• Are there any side effects of the medications I am currently taking and the medications you are prescribing right now?
• Are there any other factors besides blood sugar levels that can affect my condition?
• How can I avoid long-term complications of diabetes?
• How should I adjust my diet and lifestyle to improve my condition?
• How often should I have my doctor’s appointments to get and keep my diabetes under control?

You might have many questions of your own that are relevant to your individual condition. The most important thing after asking each question is to write down the doctor’s answer and to make sure you understood it right.

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Getting ready to talk to your diabetes doctor may seem a difficult task at first. But the better you are prepared for your appointment, the better outcome you will get. Diabetes is a complicated condition, managing which may involve a variety of treatment options that depend on many different factors. Your diabetes doctor will help you choose the right course of action, but for that to happen, you need to prepare for your doctor’s visits responsibly and by that help your diabetes doctor help you.