Making the Most of Your Diabetes Doctor Visit

By Betsy Carlisle The average routine doctor visit unfortunately lasts only about 15 minutes these days. Therefore, if you want to get the most out of your appointment, you've got to be proactive. By preparing beforehand and actively participating during your visit, you can be successful in achieving and sustaining great control of your diabetes. What to do before your doctor visit Start communicating with your doctor several days before your appointment by sending your blood glucose log via fax, e-mail, or regular mail. This provides the opportunity for your doctor to look it over prior to the appointment. Highlight any blood sugars that cause you concern or seem unexplained. Include a current list of your medicines, taking into account any herbs, vitamins, other supplements, and over-the-counter pain relievers you take, along with the current doses of each drug. Note any medicines that have been discontinued since your last visit. You may want to call the office the day before to confirm your appointment and to make sure the information you sent over was received. Also, always bring an additional copy of the documents with you to your visit in case the ones you sent were not received or got misplaced. Write down your questions and concerns before your appointment. Keep your list short — two or three issues are probably all that can be addressed at most visits due to time constraints — and make sure to discuss the most important things first. Suggested questio...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs