Before Your Appointment

Doctor's visits

Q How many check-ups are required every year for someone with diabetes?
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Your doctor will tell you when to come for another checkup. Your doctor may want to see you 2 to 4 times a year. If you take insulin or if you are having trouble reaching your blood glucose goals, or if start something new in your diabetes care plan, your doctor may want to see you even more often.

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Your doctor will tell you when to come for another checkup. Your doctor may want to see you 2 to 4 times a year. If you take insulin or if you are having trouble reaching your blood glucose goals, or if start something new in your diabetes care plan, your doctor may want to see you even more often.

First Visit

During your first visit to a new doctor who will treat your diabetes, your doctor may ask many questions like:

  • When did you learn you had diabetes?
  • What were your blood glucose results at the time of diagnosis?
  • Who else in your family has diabetes?
  • How do you treat your diabetes?
  • What type of diet do you follow and when do you eat?
  • How often and how hard do you exercise?
  • Have you gained or lost weight?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Do you have high blood pressure?
  • Do you have high cholesterol?
  • Have you ever had a low blood glucose reaction?
  • Do you test your urine for ketones?
  • What infections have you had?
  • Do you have any diabetes-related complications (eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart disease, stroke)?
  • What treatments have you been given?
  • What drugs are you taking?
  • What other medical problems have you had?

When you return to your doctor or health care team, here are some things you may want to talk about with your doctor:

  • Your blood glucose records
  • Any sickness you may have since your last visit
  • Any problems you may have with your care plan
  • Review any medicines you are taking
  • Check when any tests are due (A1c test, kidney test, cholesterol)
  • Review your plan to see if you have met your goals

This information is a summary from "Diabetes A to Z" and is provided with the permission of the American Diabetes Association.

It is a comprehensive book and recommended by the American Diabetes Association with the most up-to-date recommendations presented in a simple, yet informative format.

Click on the image to go to the American Diabetes Association bookstore.

Note: Care4life has no commercial interest in any of the books or resources it recommends.