Here are 7 things your diabetes doctor want you to know

Throughout the journey of being diabetic – be it type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes- there are two persons you owe the absolute truth about your health- yourself and your doctor. Your diabetes doctor has a role to play in helping you manage your blood sugar levels. But that depends on you, that is, it depends on the quality and quantity of information you are providing to them. In other to make the journey between you and your diabetes healthcare provider an interesting one, below are 7 things your diabetes doctor wants you to know to make your journey easy. And these are insights from diabetes experts.

1. “I want to be nosy”

“I ask patients questions about how diabetes has affected them, in addition to how it is affecting their blood glucose levels,” says endocrinologist Richard Shewbridge, MD.

Your diabetes doctor or specialist wants to know everything concerning your health ranging from your “not too serious migraine” to complex issues. Diabetes brings about different changes in the body like changes in skin color, foot size, mood, and sexual organs. Try to talk about your health issues to your doctors, even the ones that are difficult to talk about like depression and erectile dysfunction.

2. “Tell me the truth about your daily habit”

“Come clean about your diet and exercise routine, says endocrinologist Scott Isaacs, MD. 

Your diabetes doctor do not want you to lie about your daily habit as this may make your health suffer. Tell them the truth about the food you eat, how and when you take your diabetic medication, and how often you are active.

3. “Don’t fret, it’s not too late to change your lifestyle”

“If you have type 2 diabetes, losing just 7% of your body weight—that’s 12 to 13 pounds, if you weigh 180—can dramatically improve your health, says endocrinologist Osama Hamdy, MD, PhD

Your diabetes doctor also wants you to know that it is not too late to quit high carb, too sugary, and high fatty foods. Also, it is not too late to burn those excess calories and fat as they can pose more health complications like heart diseases, stroke, and high blood pressure. These lifestyle changes are very important for diabetes management.

4. “You don’t have to believe everything you read and hear”

“Keep in mind that everyone’s situation is different and some sources are more reliable than others, Dr. Isaacs says.

With the increase in diabetes cases, diabetes information is everywhere and anywhere you can think of- Blog posts, social media handles, ads, and small talks with family and friends. You don’t have to go with their ideas, your diabetes healthcare team can guide you in the right path and make the best choices for you.

5. “I shouldn’t be the only one studying, you should too”

“You should take a similar approach, advises endocrinologist Irene O’ Shaughnessy, MD. ” I encourage my patients to keep up with their diabetic education and to meet with a dietician and a diabetes educator at least once a year”, she says.

Typically, a doctor should be able to keep up with new research by taking on new courses or events to be updated. As a diabetic patient, you should also update yourself on recent trends concerning your conditions this may go a long way in your health progression.

6. “Don’t Sugarcoat your blood glucose reading”

“Some patients leave off the highest (or below normal) home glucose testing readings because they may fear that the more abnormal readings may upset the doctor,” says Dr. Shewbridge.“I’m not going to lecture you. I am interested in problem-solving to help turn the glucose levels around, so that the high glucose levels will not harm your body.” 

Your doctors need your numbers to adequately access your health, so you shouldn’t hide your actual blood glucose readings from them. Tell them as it is.

7. If you don’t like my style, don’t choose me”

Effective diabetes treatment requires doctor and patient to work together as a team, but your roles can vary depending on your personality, Dr. O’Shaughnessy says. 

For your diabetes management journey to be easy, get to know your doctor as this will enable you to be conversant with them. Make sure he or she is the best fit to help you through your diabetes management journey.

Takeaway

Partnering with a healthcare team in your diabetic journey is important, as they may put you on the right track for an effective diabetes management. However, effective diabetes management may not be possible if you and your diabetes doctor are not on the same page. Your doctor may want to be nosy, expect the truth, motivate, instruct, give best possible options  and expect your actual blood glucose reading. Knowing what your doctor expects from you can go a long way in managing diabetes.