What To Ask Your Doctor If You Develop Diabetes
Receiving a diagnosis of diabetes can feel completely overwhelming. Suddenly you have a disease that you can't sense or see, that doesn't make you feel bad, but that can dramatically affect your life.
Unfortunately, many people who are diagnosed with diabetes are sent home after receiving this news without really knowing what to do about it. What conversation should you have with your doctor if you develop diabetes? What should you ask so that you can better manage the condition?
In this article you will find many questions that are essential to understanding your new disease. You can print the list off and take it to your physician to start the conversation. If you understand why managing diabetes is important and how to do it, you will be empowered to live a long, healthy life.
About the disease
- What is diabetes?
- What type diabetes do I have, Type 1 or Type 2?
- Why does it matter if I have type 1 or 2?
- What is a normal blood sugar level?
- What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Managing Diabetes
- How can I manage my disease?
- What medications may I have to take?
- How do I inject insulin?
- What is a glucometer and why do I need one?
- How often should I test my blood sugar?
- How can I make testing my blood as easy and painless as possible?
- What should I do if my blood sugar is high?
- What should I do if my blood sugar is low?
- What are signs of low blood sugar?
- Why is having low blood sugar dangerous?
- What do I do if I develop signs of low blood sugar?
- What kind of food should I eat now that I have diabetes?
- What is counting carbohydrates? How do I do it?
- What is insulin?
- What is glucagon? How and when do I use it?
- Is there a way to cure diabetes?
- Why is losing weight important if I have type 2 diabetes?
- How do I use an insulin pen?
- What size needle should I use to inject my insulin?
- How do I know how much insulin to inject?
- Am I a candidate for using an insulin pump? How do I use one?
- How do I calculate how many carbohydrates I have eaten in a meal?
- Why is insulin measured in units? How many units are in a milileter?
- Why is regular exercise important if you have diabetes?
- What do I do to manage my disease if I get sick?
- Will my medication and insulin requirements change? How?
- What is a Diabetic Educator? What can they teach me?
- What are some diabetic resources I can use to find out more about my disease?
- How can a nutritionist help me manage my disease?
- What is Metformin?
Complications of Diabetes
- What are the complications that having diabetes puts me at increased risk for developing?
- I've heard some diabetics lose their toes or feet? Why?
- I've heard diabetes causes kidney failure? How and why?
- I've heard diabetes causes blindness? How and why?
- Why are diabetics at higher risk for heart attack and stroke?
- What can I do to decrease my risk of developing complications?
The more you understand about diabetes the better you can manage it. Be empowered and ask your doctor every question necessary. You are worth it!
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