Talking With Your Team

Preparing for your visit

 

When you live with diabetes, you may have noticed that it can change over time. Your visit with your healthcare provider is one opportunity to talk about how those changes may affect your overall diabetes management plan. It’s definitely a good idea to be prepared before you arrive. It can help to keep a journal or log, but if that feels too much like homework, try to make the time to think about the topics or questions you need to discuss. Keep in mind that time is often limited when you meet with your healthcare team, so get ready. Explore these Conversation Starters or download your Discussion Guide.

Ask yourself:

  1. Are your numbers in or out of control?
  2. You take your medication every day (or as prescribed), right?
  3. When it comes to tracking your blood sugar, are you on (or off) track?
  4. How “healthy” is your healthy eating plan?
  5. Is your exercise plan a dream or a reality?
  6. Have you talked to your doctor about it?
  7. Side effects? Symptoms? What’s really bothering you?

Eager to get started? 

Bring these along to your next appointment:

  1. Your insurance card
  2. Updates to your medical history (operations? allergies? family history?)
  3. A list of your current medications
  4. A referral (if one is required)
  5. Your Blood Sugar Tracker and your meter
  6. A food diary if you keep one
  7. This Discussion Guide and a pen to take notes!

Ask about your A1c:

  1. How does my A1c test compare to my last one?
  2. Would more exercise plus a different diet add up to a better number?

Ask about your medications: 

  1. A new medication? What do I need to know? The name? Dosage? How to take it?
  2. Will my dose change over time? How will I know when it’s time to change it?
  3. Why this treatment rather than another one?
  4. What side effects should I look for?
  5. How will I know if it’s working—and when?

These questions may start a good discussion.

Your overall diabetes management plan. Ask:

  1. What would cause the need for a change in my diabetes treatment? A change in my diet? Exercise? Something else?
  2. Is it time to change my medication? How will that impact my blood sugar?
  3. What are some other changes I can make?

Your Discussion Guide

" Being ready before I walk into the examining room means I have more time to focus on questions I have "

 

— Lakshmi S., TeamingUp Champion