Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYour family doctor or primary care physician likely will diagnose your type 2 diabetes, then refer you to a doctor who specializes in hormonal disorders (endocrinologist). Your health care team also may include:
- Dietitian
- Certified diabetes educator
- Foot doctor (podiatrist)
- Doctor who specializes in eye care (ophthalmologist)
If your blood sugar levels are very high, your doctor may send you to the hospital for treatment.
It's good to prepare for appointments with your health care team. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and 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, you'll need to refrain from eating or drinking anything but water for eight hours for a fasting glucose test or four hours for a pre-meal test. When you're making an appointment, ask if you should fast.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated.
- Ask a family member or friend to join you, if possible. Managing diabetes well requires retaining a lot of information. Someone who accompanies you may remember something you missed.
- Bring a notebook and a pen or pencil to write down important information.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For type 2 diabetes, some basic questions to ask include:
Glucose monitoring
- How often do I need to monitor my blood sugar?
- What is my goal range?
Lifestyle changes
- What changes do I need to make to my diet?
- How can I learn about counting carbohydrates in foods?
- Should I see a dietitian to help with meal planning?
- How much exercise should I get each day?
Medications
- Will I need to take medicine? If so, what kind and how much?
- Do I need to take the medicine at a particular time of the day?
- Do I need to take insulin?
- I have other medical problems. How do I manage them together?
Complications
- What are the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar?
- How do I treat low blood sugar?
- What are the signs and symptoms of high blood sugar?
- When should I test for ketones, and how do I do it?
Medical management
- How often do I need to be monitored for diabetes complications? What specialists do I need to see?
- Are there resources available if I'm having trouble paying for diabetes supplies?
- Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask any other questions.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:
- Do you understand your treatment plan and feel confident you can follow it?
- How are you coping with diabetes?
- Have you experienced any low blood sugar?
- What's a typical day's diet like?
- Are you exercising? If so, what type of exercise? How often?
What you can do in the meantime
If your blood sugar isn't well controlled, or if you're not sure what to do in a certain situation, contact your doctor or diabetes educator.
References
- Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed Sept. 23, 2012.
- Diabetes mellitus (DM). The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec12/ch158/ch158b.html#sec12-ch158-ch158b-1105. Accessed Sept. 30, 2012.
- Inzucchi SE, et al. Management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes: A patient-centered approach. Diabetes Care. 2012;35:1364.
- Standards of medical care in diabetes — 2013. Diabetes Care. 2013:36:S1.
- Bonoro E, et al. The pros and cons of diagnosing diabetes with A1C. Diabetes Care. 2011;34:S184.
- Your guide to diabetes: Type 1 and type 2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/index.htm. Accessed Sept. 23, 2012.
- Screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf08/type2/type2rs.htm. Accessed Sept. 23, 2012.
- Diabetes statistics. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics. Accessed Sept. 23, 2012.
- What people with diabetes need to know about osteoporosis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/diabetes.asp. Sept. 23, 2011.
- Mazzola N. Review of current and emerging therapies in type 2 diabetes mellitus. American Journal of Managed Care. 2012;18:S17.
- Take charge of your diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/tcyd/vaccin.htm. Accessed Sept. 30, 2012.
- Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNS). American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/hyperosmolar-hyperglycemic.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2012.
- Dixon JB, et al. Bariatric surgery: An IDF statement for obese type 2 diabetes. Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia. 2011;55:367.
- Before pregnancy. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/pregnant-women/before-pregnancy.html. Accessed Sept. 30, 2012.
- Helzner EP, et al. Contribution of vascular risk factors to the progression in Alzheimer disease. Archives of Neurology. 2009;66:343.
- Bainbridge KE. Diabetes and hearing impairment in the United States: Audiometric evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2004. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2008;149:1.
- Schauer PR, et al. Bariatric surgery vs. intense medical therapy in obese patients with diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 2012;366:1567.
- Mingrone G, et al. Bariatric surgery vs. conventional medical therapy for type 2 diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 2012;366:1577.
- A1C. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/a1c/?keymatch=a1c. Accessed Oct. 1, 2012.
Find Mayo Clinic on