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Preparing for your appointment

By Mayo Clinic staff

You're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to an endocrinologist, who specializes in diabetes, among other disorders.

Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance. This might include restricting your diet, such as for a fasting blood sugar test.
  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes. If you're monitoring your glucose values at home, bring a record of the glucose results, detailing the dates and times of testing.
  • Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
  • Record your family medical history. In particular, note any relatives who have had diabetes, heart attacks or strokes.
  • Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write down questions to ask your doctor. Be clear about aspects of your diabetes management that you need clarification on.
  • Be aware if you need any prescription refills. Your doctor can renew your prescriptions while you're there.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For diabetes, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • Are the symptoms I'm experiencing now related to my diabetes or another condition?
  • What kinds of tests do I need to best manage my diabetes?
  • What else can I do to protect my health?
  • What are other options to manage my diabetes?
  • I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
  • Should I see another specialist?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
  • Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

  • When did you first begin experiencing symptoms that concerned you about the possibility that you have diabetes?
  • Have your symptoms been continuous, or occasional?
  • How severe are your symptoms?
  • Is there a family history of preeclampsia or diabetes?
Tests and diagnosis Complications
References
  1. All about diabetes. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp. Accessed Dec. 25, 2008.
  2. Collazo-Clavell ML, ed. The Essential Diabetes Guide. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2008.
  3. Diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. http://www.icsi.org/diabetes_mellitus__type_2/management_of_type_2_diabetes_mellitus__9.html. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  4. Gastroparesis: What you should know. American Academy of Family Physicians. www.aafp.org/afp/20080615/1703ph.html. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  5. McCulloch DK. Overview of medical care in adults with diabetes mellitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  6. Your guide to diabetes: Type 1 and type 2. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/YourGuide2Diabetes.pdf. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  7. Diabetes in pregnancy. March of Dimes. http://search.marchofdimes.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=6&page_id=12648448&query=gestational+diabetes&hiword=DIABETIC+GESTATION+GESTATIONS+diabetes+gestational+. Accessed Jan. 29, 2009.
  8. Gestational diabetes. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes.jsp. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  9. Am I at risk for type 2 diabetes? National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/riskfortype2/risk.pdf. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  10. Eisenbarth GS, et al. Type 1 diabetes mellitus. In: Kronenberg HM, et al. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/115481400-2/0/1555/195.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2911-3..50033-9--p1391. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  11. Diabetes and pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp051.cfm. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  12. Managing gestational diabetes. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/gest_diabetes/. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  13. Am I at risk for gestational diabetes? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/upload/gest_diabetes_risk_2005.pdf. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  14. Diabetes. In: Williams Obstetrics. 22nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.. aspx?aID=738493. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  15. Pancreas transplantation. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/pancreas-transplants.jsp. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  16. Other diabetes medications. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/oral-medications.jsp. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  17. Tetanus disease in-short (Lockjaw). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/tetanus/in-short-both.htm. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  18. Smoking. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/smoking.jsp. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
  19. Eye complications. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/eye-complications.jsp. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
  20. Saller A, et al. Diabetes and osteoporosis. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. 2008;20:280.
  21. American College of Endocrinology: Task Force on Prediabetes. American College of Endocrinology consensus statement on the diagnosis and management of pre-diabetes in the continuum of hyperglycemia - When do the risks of diabetes begin? http://www.aace.com/meetings/consensus/hyperglycemia/hyperglycemia.pdf. Accessed Jan. 9, 2009.
  22. International Expert Committee. International Expert Committee report on the role of the A1C assay in the diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2009;32:1.

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June 13, 2009

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