Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Professional About Diabetes Monitoring

Appointments are short, and it is easy to leave without the answers you needed. Monitoring plans are highly individual, so the most reliable information about how, when and why to test will come from your own healthcare team. Take this list with you and note the answers.

Before the appointment

• Bring your meter or CGM data and your logbook.
• Bring a list of medicines and supplements.
• Write down any problems: sore fingers, error messages, unexplained highs or lows.
• Mark the three questions that matter most to you in case time runs short.

About your targets

1. What should my blood glucose be before meals?
2. What should it be two hours after meals?
3. What is my target at bedtime and overnight?
4. What is my A1C goal, and what was my last result?
5. Are my targets different from the usual ranges, and why?

About when and how often to test

1. Do I need to monitor at home?
2. At what times of day should I test?
3. How many times a day or week?
4. Should I test before and after exercise, or before driving?
5. When should I test more often, for example when I am ill?

About devices

1. Which meter do you recommend for me?
2. Would a continuous glucose monitor be suitable, and would my insurance cover it?
3. Can you watch me do a test and check my technique?
4. How do I know my meter is accurate? Can we compare it with a lab test today?
5. Which lancet size and depth setting should I use?

About results

1. What should I record alongside each reading?
2. How do I spot patterns in my results?
3. What should I do if a reading is above my target?
4. At what number should I call you or seek urgent help?
5. Should I ever adjust my medicine based on a reading? If so, how?

About low blood sugar

1. Am I at risk of low blood sugar with my medicines?
2. What are the warning signs, and how should I treat a low?
3. What should my family or colleagues know?
4. Should I have glucagon available?

About special situations

1. What is my sick-day plan? Should I check for ketones?
2. How should I adjust testing when I travel across time zones?
3. What changes if I become pregnant or plan a pregnancy?
4. How do alcohol, fasting or shift work affect my monitoring?

About supplies and costs

1. How many strips will I need each month, and are they covered?
2. How do I dispose of sharps in this area?
3. Where can I get help if I cannot afford my supplies?

About the bigger picture

1. Which other tests am I due for: eyes, kidneys, cholesterol, feet?
2. Is there a diabetes education program I can join?
3. When is my next appointment, and what should I track before then?

During the appointment

• Take notes or ask if you may record the conversation.
• Ask for explanations in plain language and repeat back what you have understood.
• Request written targets and an action plan.
• Bring a family member or friend if it helps.

After the appointment

• Update your logbook with your targets and testing times.
• Set reminders for tests and follow-up appointments.
• Restock supplies to match your plan. A complete starter set is available in our Blood Glucose Monitoring Kit.
• Contact the clinic if anything is unclear once you are home.

Who can help

• Doctors and nurse practitioners set treatment and targets.
• Diabetes care and education specialists teach monitoring skills.
• Pharmacists advise on devices, strips and medicines.
• Dietitians connect readings with food choices.

The bottom line

Clear questions lead to a clear plan. Know your targets, your schedule and what to do when results are out of range. Then keep the supplies on hand to follow it, from our diabetes care department.

Sources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Monitoring Your Blood Sugar.
2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Managing Diabetes.
3. American Diabetes Association. Check Your Blood Glucose.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your Diabetes Care Schedule.