5 Questions To Ask Your Doctor When Living With Diabetes
Learning that you have diabetes can be a tough pill to swallow. For many people however, an early diagnosis is an opportunity to make big lifestyle changes and to begin forming better habits like exercising daily, eating right, and squeezing in sufficient sleep in your busy schedule. But before you embark on properly managing your diabetes, it is important that you know what steps are necessary to gain control of your symptoms and what lifestyle choices you should avoid. Consulting with your doctor upon diagnosis is the best way to get ready-to-implement information as well as set clear guidelines moving forward.
Below are five simple questions to ask your regular physician to minimize its impact
- Does diabetes make me susceptible to other diseases?
Depending on the extent and type (diabetes type 1, or type 2) your doctor can help you regiment your diet, prescribe medication, or suggest an exercise routine that will help regulate your bodily systems and improve your overall health. In time, a regimented fitness routine, proper diet in addition to medicinally managing your diabetic symptoms, will help keep other common diseases like hypertension and heart disease at bay.
2. Does having diabetes mean I can’t eat the things I like anymore?
The simple answer is no, but your doctor is better able to specify manageable quantities, depending on your overall health and specifics concerning your diagnosis, like what type you have. Consulting your physician about what you can eat freely, or if he or she makes any special recommendations concerning your intake of processed and natural sugars, fats, and carbohydrates will avoid worsening your symptoms.
3. Do I need to take my medication, even if I feel especially good one day?
Under no circumstances should you stop taking your medication even on the days you feel fine, unless clearly stated by your doctor. Remember the reason why you feel fine is because your blood sugar and/or insulin is now stabilized. If your medication is making you feel sickly, or “doesn’t seem to be working,” talk to your doctor about what other options might be available to you.
4. How often do I need to test my blood sugar?
Although you might be tempted to check often — before and after meals, in the morning, and at night — you may not need to. Your doctor will likely make certain recommendations depending on how often your blood sugar fluctuates; however, you should always check your blood sugar in the event you feel lightheaded or generally unwell.
5. Will losing weight help me regulate my symptoms?
Losing a healthy amount of weight is likely to reduce pressure and fluid build-up, as well as curtail tingling and numbness in the extremities due to poor circulation, often worsened by excessive weight. Your doctor may also suggest that you take certain bodily precautions like wear compression-based leg and foot gear, or to allocate a specific amount of time doing exercises in place, to further prevent clotting and numbness. However you should always consult your doctor if you are working towards a drastic bodily transformation, or if you plan to undergo weight loss surgery.
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