If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and feel confused, overwhelmed, and unsure about what questions to ask your doctor and where to start, you are in the right place. Continue reading to learn the 4 Diabetes questions you should ask your doctor.
The best time to take action is now when you are newly diagnosed because you still have time to learn and prevent diabetes-related complications and bring your blood sugar back to normal.
Important Diabetes Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Q1. Can I exercise?
If so, are there any limitations? For example, more often, people call physical movements activity-free medicine because these can be done quickly at any time, which is a great way to improve blood sugar levels immediately.
Consult your doctor to get specific clearance and guidance before you start moving. Outdoor activities, hiking, aerobics, stretching, yoga, videos, and strength training can all help you begin your exercise journey as a person with diabetes.
Make sure you pick an activity you enjoy and do it regularly.
Q2. What is My Hemoglobin A1C?
In diabetes diagnosis, knowing and understanding the hemoglobin A1C is the most critical number to know.
Your A1C is the average daily blood sugar level for the past one to three months.
It is a measure of the amount of sugar that is attached to your red blood cells. Knowing these numbers gives excellent knowledge of how well you are controlling your diabetes. Here are the ranges
Average: Less than 5%
Borderline (pre-diabetes): 5.7 to 6.4%
Diabetes: 6.5% or greater
Immediately a person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes; the goal is to maintain hemoglobinA1C below 7%. You should consider checking with your doctor to see if they have specific and personal goals for you. However, these are the general guidelines from the American Diabetes Association. A hemoglobin A1C chart (1) is essential to help you check if your blood sugar is on track.
You may Like this also: How to interpret A1C numbers
Q3. How do my medications work? When should I take them? What should I do if I miss a dose?
Suppose you have been diagnosed with diabetes and given any medications to help with your blood sugar level. In that case, it is essential to understand the ‘WHY’ and the ‘HOW’ of your drugs.
Ask your doctor to explain why that particular drug is chosen and how you should take it. Then, make sure it is a medication you can afford daily without putting a hole in your purse.
The more knowledgeable you are about your medication, the better you will be able to take them and recognize how effective they are working or report any unusual side effects you notice.
Q4. Can I have a blood sugar monitor?
Checking and monitoring your blood sugar levels at home is one of the best ways to understand how food, sleep, exercise, and lifestyle habits can affect your blood sugar level daily.
You should ask your doctor when to check your blood sugar level and what goal level you should aim at. You can reduce blood sugar levels at any time throughout the day. Although, it is necessary to check your fasting blood sugar level and repeat 2 hours after the first bite of your meal to get an accurate result of how the food affects your blood sugar.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that fasting blood sugar levels be between 70 and 130mg/dL 2 hours after the first bite of a meal – it should be less than 180mg/dL (2).
Conclusion
A diabetes diagnosis can be undoubtedly scary, especially when you are first diagnosed. However, people with uncontrolled diabetes have a higher risk of diabetes complications. Understanding that you can control your blood sugar levels without being a part of the scary group is essential.
Well-controlled blood sugar is the goal. This will help prevent further diabetes-related health problems (3). However, this goal can only be achieved when you get the correct information about your diabetes condition, how to manage it, and medication use from your doctor.
The next time you plan to visit your doctor, be sure to ask them the following questions;
- what exercise is suitable for a diabetic
- how your medication work
- how to measure or test your blood sugar at home
- how to interpret hemoglobin A1C numbers.
References
- Diabetes blood sugar chart: How to interpret a1c numbers. Healthyavid. (2021, July 27). Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.healthyavid.com/diabetes-blood-sugar-chart/
- The big picture: Checking your blood sugar. The Big Picture: Checking Your Blood Sugar | ADA. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living/medication-treatments/blood-glucose-testing-and-control/checking-your-blood-sugar
- Robinson, L. (2022, March 29). The diabetes diet. HelpGuide.org. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/diets/the-diabetes-diet.htm
