Preparing for the ‘A’ day
Before taking an appointment, it is important to be mentally prepared and keep the following points in mind
- File all your medications and previous doctors’ visits as per the dates and not as per the hospital or clinic you
- Make sure you have someone to accompany you during your visit, especially if it is your first.
- Prepare a questionnaire about what you want to ask your doctor.
- Be patient; every visit will take some of your time, depending on your Also at times, you may have to wait for your turn as there may be other patients. In addition, the doctorwill call you for a follow-up, so do make time for the upcoming appointments.
- Do not miss your appointments, if the reasons are unavoidable do inform in advance or a few hours before the appointment to avoid wasting the physician’s time.
- Be honest with your doctor as this will aid them in understanding your condition better.
Scheduling an appointment
Always make sure that you are on time. Taking prior appointments aids the doctor in charting out their schedule. It also ensures that you get quality time with your doctor as they get to review your previous report and are ready for the consultation. Coming for a visit on the spur of the moment may require waiting for a longer duration. However, depending on the medical condition of the patient he or she may be accommodated on the same day or may have to return to visit the next day with an appointment.
Consultation
When you go for your consultation, it is very important to be self-motivated and co- operative. Having an open mind and being flexible to the suggestions given by the doctor goes a long way. Being rigid and judgmental does not help. Moreover, being forced by relatives and friends only delays your quality time with the doctor. It also creates an atmosphere of uneasiness as the doctor may not be able to communicate with you effectively. A conversation is only fruitful when both ends contribute making it a pleasant experience.
Diabetes-related visit
Discuss with your doctor openly regarding health issues as it helps them in assessing the severity of your condition. If you have Diabetes, check whether you have to come fasting. If yes – a minimum of 12 hours of fasting is required. Also, remember to carry your
- Previous medical records and prescription (as per the dates) –
- Blood sugar levels, HbA1c, serumcreatinine, urine examination, lipid profile
- Recent fasting and post meals blood sugar levels
- Food diary (a food chart of what you have eaten the past 3-7 days)
- Blood sugar records
- Medications (bring the medications you are taking, if on insulin get the pen and discuss in details how many units you take in a day)
- List of the questions and concerns that you may have
Always carry a snack with you to avoid hypoglycaemia
Ensure that you have somebody to accompany you if you are
- Senior citizen
- Disabled (visually impaired/require hearing aid) and
- Have language issues
Carrying a questionnaire
Diabetes is complex and vast. All patient queries cannot be handled in one consultation. Also, it is impossible for a person to remember what he or she needs to know about the disease. Therefore a ready questionnaire can give the patient the information he or she needs to know that will not only save their time but also the physician’s time.
Some basic questions to help you get started
- A brief explanation on Diabetes and its types
- Target levels for blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol etc.
- Importance of lifestyle modification (healthy diet and regular exercise)
- Recent fasting and post meals blood sugar levels
- Symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
- Symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia)
- Complications and comorbidities of Diabetes
- Medications – dose and the time (before or after meals) its mechanism of action, complications
- Importance of frequent blood sugar testing and annual check-up
- The risk to family members – if parents are diabetic, what risk does it pose to their children?
- Managing Diabetes if you are travelling frequently
- Managing Diabetes in sickness
Drawing the line
During your session, it is possible at times to get over-anxious. But it is important to remember that you need to draw a line when asking questions. Avoid questions:
- That will provoke an emotional response like the death of a partner or close relative who was helping you with Diabetes management.
- Not pertaining to health
- Talking of barriers that you will face, even before medications or diet is
- Regarding personal or family matters (e.g. dispute between husband and wife, wife blaming the husband for not taking care of his health and husband blaming the wife for not preparing healthy meals)
- Blaming other doctors for your high blood sugar levels
Note:
During your appointment make sure that you do not
- Attend phone calls, unless it’s an emergency
- Bring children of very young age as they constantly need your time and attention, thereby hampering the flow of your consultation
Try and make the most of your appointment so that it benefits you. Keeping these simple points in mind will enable you to manage your time better as well as benefit from the consultation. Also, remember that doctors are here to help you lead a better life so be as honest as you can during your visit.
