8 tips for working with your doctor

While you probably won't have dinner dates with your doctor, they can be your best friend when it comes to helping you manage your diabetes. Here are some things to keep in mind for your next doctor's visit to ensure you're getting the care you deserve.

It never hurts to be friendly to the people who work with your physician.

• The staff can be extremely helpful when it comes to getting more face time with your doctor, answering questions about insurance coverage or providing you a quick answer when your doctor isn't available.

Most diabetics visit the doctor every three to four months, but that varies depending on your health status, including how stable your glucose levels are.

• Ask your doctor how often he or she'd like to see you and keep those appointments. If you go for long periods without seeing your doctor and your glucose is not under control, you could cause yourself some serious trouble.

The best way your doctor can help you manage your blood sugar is to try keeping both a log of your glucose readings and the foods you eat. They can help you pin down the foods that might be influencing your blood sugar and find ways to change them for the better.

• Unfortunately, not all general practitioners will take the time — or even have the expertise — to do this.
• If you're not getting enough help along these lines, you should see a registered dietitian. Be prepared to talk about what kind of exercise you've been doing.

Doctor's appointments are usually short and sometimes it's hard to take everything in.

• If possible, bring someone with you to just listen to what the doctor says.
• After the appointment, compare notes.
• If you don't have anyone to bring with you, you may be able to find an advocate from a diabetes support group in your area to accompany you.

Having lots of buttons can make getting undressed for examinations cumbersome.

• Loose pants with an elastic waist, a comfy T-shirt or sweater and slip-on shoes are perfect.
• Your feet should be examined at every visit for signs of skin breakdown, hot spots, cracked heals or ingrown toenails.

•  Sometimes doctors take your blood pressure and don't tell you the result — but you should know.

If your pressure is higher than normal, your heart is working too hard and can indicate an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney damage.

• Take a few deep breaths before he checks your blood pressure; this will help you get a more accurate reading, especially if you sometimes get a little nervous in the doctor's office.
• Make sure your feet are flat on the floor.
• Your doctor should also help you set blood sugar goals.

• List over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbs, along with prescription drugs.

This will help your doctor determine if you're taking two things that interact badly, or if you're taking something you really don't need. It will also clue him in to side effects that may be related to something you're taking.

•  Speak up if for any reason you have concerns about your doctor's recommendations and expectations,
• For example, if your feet burn so much that you can't exercise or there's nowhere to refrigerate your insulin at work. These are problems your doctor can help you work around.

Let your doctor know what activities you are doing, and changes to your diet, to ensure they are right for you.

Your doctor plays an essential role in managing your diabetes. Use these eight tips to make the best use of her or him.