| Diabetes Matters Class Discusses How To Prepare for Doctor's Visits Tri-City Voice,
April 29, 2009 Controlling diabetes is
a team effort, requiring honest, open
communication between patients and their
physicians. That’s why it is important
to make the most of the limited amount
of time available for most doctor
appointments by preparing in advance.
"Your doctors – whether they are
primary care physicians or specialists
such as endocrinologists, podiatrists or
ophthalmologists – need to know about
your health history and your current
concerns in order to provide you with
the best possible care," says Washington
Hospital endocrinologist Dr. Prasad
Katta.
To help people in the community learn
more about how to get the most out of
doctor appointments, Washington Hospital
is sponsoring a free "Diabetes Matters"
class, featuring a lecture by Dr. Katta.
A question-and-answer session will
follow the lecture. The class is
scheduled for Thursday, May 7 from 7 to
8 p.m. in the Conrad E. Anderson, M.D.
auditorium in the Washington West
Building at 2500 Mowry Avenue in
Fremont. Participants are also invited
to stay for the diabetes support group
that will take place at 8 p.m.
immediately following the Diabetes
Matters class.
"During the first visit with a new
doctor, you generally will be given a
complete physical exam, including blood
tests, and asked about your personal
medical history as well as your family
history," he explains. "For many people,
it helps to write information down
before seeing the doctor so they don’t
forget to convey important facts."
Dr. Katta notes that physicians will
want to know:
-
Do you have a family history of
diabetes? If so, which family
members had diabetes and how severe
were their conditions?
Have
you previously been diagnosed with
diabetes or pre-diabetes? Any
patient with pre-diabetes should be
screened every six to 12 months.
Do
you have other medical conditions in
addition to diabetes, such as high
blood pressure or high cholesterol?
People with diabetes often have high
blood pressure and cholesterol
levels, which increase their risk
for heart disease and other
complications of diabetes.
Are
you currently taking any
medications? It is best to provide a
written list of all medications,
including non-prescription drugs and
supplements, listing the dosage and
frequency of use.
Do you measure your blood sugar
levels on a regular basis? A written
record of your blood sugar levels –
along with a "food journal" that
tracks how your diet relates to
blood sugar levels – can be an
important tool in evaluating the
effectiveness of various treatments
for diabetes.
Are you experiencing any
symptoms that would indicate your
diabetes is not well controlled?
Late symptoms can include frequent
urination, excessive thirst and
extreme hunger, especially for
sugary foods. More extreme symptoms
might include unexplained weight
loss, extreme fatigue, irritability,
blurred vision, tingling and
numbness in the hands or feet,
frequent bladder or vaginal yeast
infections, and slow healing of cuts
or bruises.
What are your eating and
exercise patterns?
"In the early stages, diabetes often
produces no overt physical symptoms,"
Dr. Katta explains. "Diabetes is
generally slow in progressing, and
patients may not sense any symptoms for
years, so the diagnosis of serious
problems may be delayed. That’s why
people with a family history of diabetes
should have thorough medical check-ups
at regular intervals. For people with no
family history of diabetes or other risk
factors, the American Diabetes
Association recommends a blood sugar
screening every three years, beginning
at age 45. Those who have a family
history or other risk factors such as
obesity, high blood pressure or elevated
cholesterol should be screened more
frequently."
For patients who have already been
diagnosed with diabetes, Dr. Katta
emphasizes the importance of carefully
monitoring blood sugar levels.
"When patients are first diagnosed,
they should measure their blood sugar
levels several times a day to evaluate
the effectiveness of their medications,"
he says. "Once the patient is stable on
oral medications, one measurement a day
may be fine, but you should stagger the
times when you measure – sometimes in
the morning before eating, sometimes at
mid-day, sometimes after dinner or a
dessert. Patients who are on insulin
need to measure their blood sugar levels
more often, at least three times a day.
"Providing your physician with a
written record of your blood sugar
levels is very important for monitoring
how well your diabetes is controlled,"
he adds. "Information from the newer
blood sugar meters can be downloaded
onto a computer, so you can simply bring
the meter into the doctor’s office and
have the data downloaded on the doctor’s
computer. Many people find it useful to
keep one meter at home and another at
work so they don’t have to carry it with
them at all times."
In addition to written notes about
your health history, medications,
symptoms and blood sugar levels, Dr.
Katta recommends keeping a journal of
any questions that arise in between
office visits. Then, during an
appointment, ask about the questions
that concern you.
"Make sure your questions are
answered," he emphasizes. "If you don’t
understand the answers, ask the doctor
to explain what he or she means. If you
are confused or have trouble remembering
the doctor’s instructions, ask for
written instructions. And, of course, if
you have an urgent question, don’t wait
to schedule an appointment. A lot of
questions can be answered over the
phone."
If you would like to learn how to
better approach your next doctor’s
visit, register for the seminar at (800)
963-7070. To find out about other
diabetes education classes, call (510)
745-6556.
Diabetes Support Group
Success in managing diabetes has a
lot to do with receiving and giving
social support. For people who suffer
from diabetes,
Washington Hospital’s Outpatient
Diabetes Program offers a
support group that allows people to have
in-depth conversations about what’s
happening in their lives and share
information about dealing with diabetes
in a positive and caring environment.
The support group meetings are
held at 8 p.m. every month immediately
following the hour-long Diabetes Matters
lecture which begins at 7 p.m. the first
Thursday of each month. Family members
and friends are also welcome. For more
information about the support group or
other classes and programs, call the
Diabetes Services program at (510)
745-6556 or visit us on the web:
www.whhs.com/services/diabetes.
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