3 questions to ask before a doctor's appointment

Diabetics find themselves at the doctor's office quite frequently, but they don't always leave with the information they need. Here's three questions to ask yourself before heading to the doctor.

Because people with diabetes need to be diligent about monitoring their blood-sugar levels, they go through a lot of tests. Here are five such tests your doctor should perform regularly:

• Hemoglobin A1C, every three to six months
• Blood pressure, at least every six months
• Blood lipid profile (for heart and blood-vessel health), at least annually
• Microalbumin (for kidney health), at least annually
• Dilated-eye exam (for eye health), at least annually.

• Find out if you'll need to make an appointment at the lab, or if they have walk-in times.
• You may need to refrain from eating or drinking prior to the test. If so, how long you will need to fast.
• If you're taking a stress test, ask what you should wear.
• Find out if you need to have lab work completed a certain number of days before your doctor's appointment.

• A Dutch study found that half of all visitors to the family doctor hadn't decided in advance what they wanted to talk about.
• Given the brevity of most doctors' appointments, being ready to give — and get — information should be your top priority.
• You'll feel more confident when talking with your doctor, and you'll get the answers and info you need, when you make a list of questions and prioritize them.
• In one review of 33 office-visit studies, researchers found that people who brought checklists got more time with their doctor.

With the right preparation, a visit to the doctor can be very informative and productive. Take time before each visit to plan out what you want and need. That way, the visit can be more tolerable, and better for your overall health.