Preparing for an appointment

If you have trouble keeping your blood sugar within the desired range, schedule an appointment to see your doctor. He or she can help you make changes to better manage your diabetes.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and to know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. If your doctor is going to test your blood sugar, he or she may ask you to refrain from eating or drinking anything but water for up to eight hours before your appointment. When you're making an appointment, ask if you should fast.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements you take.
• Create a record of metered glucose values. Give your doctor a written or printed record of your blood glucose values, times and medication. Using the record, your doctor can recognize trends and offer advice on how to prevent or adjust your medication to treat hyperglycemia.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor. Be clear about aspects of your diabetes management that you need more information on.
• Be aware if you need any prescription refills. Your doctor can renew your prescriptions while you're there.

For hyperglycemia, questions you may want to ask include:

• How often do I need to monitor my blood sugar?
• What is my goal range?
• How do diet and exercise affect my blood sugar?
• When do I test for ketones?
• How can I prevent high blood sugar?
• Do I need to worry about low blood sugar? What are the signs and symptoms I need to watch out for?
• What kind of follow-up, if any, will I need?

Sick-day planning

Illness or infections can cause your blood sugar to rise, so it's important to plan for these situations. Talk to your doctor about creating a sick-day plan. Questions to ask include:

• How often should I monitor my blood sugar during an illness?
• Does my insulin injection or oral diabetes pill dose change when I'm sick?
• When should I test for ketones?
• What if I'm unable to eat or drink?
• When should I seek medical help?