Doctor Discussion Guide
Taking good care of yourself when you have type 2 diabetes can be a lot of work. So make sure you see your doctor regularly to check how you're doing and to help prevent long-term health problems.
To help make the most of your doctor visits, go prepared. Try to take these things with you:
- A record of your daily blood sugar tests or your glucose meter with the stored information
- A list of medicines you're taking, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements (You can put all your medicines into a plastic bag and take them with you.)
- Notes about any health problems you've had
- A list of questions you'd like to ask your doctor
If you're not sure what to ask your doctor, you can use these questions to help get the conversation started:
- What are my ABC numbers?
- A for A1C
- B for blood pressure
- C for cholesterol
- What should my ABC target numbers be?
- How often should I test my blood sugar?
- Will I notice any warning signs if my blood sugar is too high or too low?
- Should I see a registered dietitian to review what I eat?
- Do I need to lose weight?
- Which exercises are best for me?
- What tests do I need to have done to check my eyes, feet, kidneys, nerves, and heart?
- Should I attend a class taught by a diabetes nurse educator? How can I find such a class in my area?
- What are the side effects of the medicine(s) I'm taking?
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