Blog - Diabetes Information, Symptoms & Diagnoses
5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor After a Diabetes Diagnosis
It can feel overwhelming to go into your initial appointments with your doctor or Diabetes Healthcare Team after your diagnosis. It’s normal to feel emotions like stress or even grief in the wake of a diabetes diagnosis, so it’s important to be kind to yourself. One of the ways that you can support yourself during this initial period is to prepare your questions and concerns ahead of your appointments so that your healthcare professional (HCP) can offer answers and guidance, even if you have a limited time together.
What to Ask Your Doctor About Diabetes
Getting your questions answered and demystifying diabetes for yourself can provide a greater sense of control, empowering you to get started on your diabetes management plan with greater confidence. Here are a few questions you can ask your care team to help you have a productive conversation about taking the first steps on your diabetes journey.
1. What does diabetes mean for me?
Diabetes impacts every single person differently. While there are general medical guidelines set out for how diabetes is treated, diabetes is a complex condition that requires individualised attention.1–4 Knowing the basics about the different types of diabetes can help you get clarity on why your HCP is making certain recommendations for you.5
Diabetes refers to conditions where the body isn’t able to control blood sugar, also known as glucose, due to challenges with the hormone insulin. This hormone allows glucose to be absorbed into the body and used for energy.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) happens when the autoimmune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin and is more commonly diagnosed in children. However, this type of diabetes can also occur in adults between 30 and 50 years old, and is known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) or “type 1.5 diabetes.”6,7 Individuals living with T1D need to take insulin via daily injections or an insulin pump to replace the insulin usually made by the pancreas.6
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) develops over time as the cells in the body become less responsive to insulin, known as insulin resistance, and can’t absorb glucose as well. It can also happen when the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to effectively manage glucose levels in the body.8 Those living with T2D may use insulin, but glucose-regulating medication and a combination of lifestyle changes around diet and exercise are also common treatment options.8
Both T1D and T2D are treatable, manageable conditions. As you create your diabetes management plan with your HCP, remember that you can absolutely have an excellent quality of life and continue to enjoy the things you love.
2. What lifestyle changes will I need to make?
This question may be top-of-mind for you as you start to make a diabetes management plan with your HCP. Lifestyle changes may be required to help you keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range. It’s important to acknowledge that it does take time, effort, and attention to build and maintain habits that support your diabetes treatment and blood sugar management. Having concerns or feeling frustrated about the changes you need to make to your lifestyle is also completely normal.
Lifestyle changes are ultimately about you and your well-being. Along with essential treatment routines like blood sugar monitoring, exercise, and insulin management , you and your HCP can explore options that support your mental health and enjoyment of life. Some lifestyle changes that may be required include eating a balanced, whole-foods diet and getting more activity in each week.9 These changes can enrich your life overall while helping you manage your blood sugar.
3. What are the long-term effects of diabetes?
Many aspects of diabetes management are aimed at helping you thrive well into the future and reducing the risk of developing diabetes-related complications down the road. Being aware of the other conditions that can arise when you’re living with diabetes can guide you to proactively take steps to prevent them.
Among others, high blood sugar levels can cause issues with the eyes over time, known as diabetic retinopathy, which may lead to blindness. It can also increase your risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke. High blood sugar can damage the kidneys and cause gum disease. Diabetes may also damage the nerves and reduce blood circulation, which could lead to issues in your extremities, especially your feet.10
Be sure to speak with your doctor about your risk levels for these conditions. The sooner you have the information you need, the more prepared you’ll be to take care of yourself.
4. How do I monitor my blood sugar levels?
Checking your blood sugar levels throughout the day and at night is one of the new habits you’ll need to adopt when living with diabetes. Keeping an eye on your blood sugar is important because if it goes too high or too low, you can run into challenges of varying severity.
There are a few ways to test your blood sugar levels as part of your everyday diabetes management routine. You may already be familiar with the method of pricking your finger and using a blood glucose meter (BGM) to test your blood sugar levels. BGMs offer a snapshot of your blood sugar level in the moment that you perform the test.11
You can also check your glucose levels using a real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) system. rtCGM systems consist of a wearable device that takes glucose readings automatically at regular intervals via a small sensor inserted just below the skin, eliminating the need for routine finger pricks throughout the day.* For example, Dexcom rtCGM Systems take glucose readings every five minutes. Those readings are then sent to a receiver or compatible smart device† so that you can see where your glucose levels are in the palm of your hand. Another advantage of Dexcom rtCGM Systems is that they can allow you to see where your glucose levels are headed and can notify you before a predicted low below 3.1 mmol/L.‡
5. Can I get a real-time CGM system?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that rtCGM should be offered to everyone living with T1D.2,3 This could include the Dexcom ONE, Dexcom G6 and the Dexcom G7 CGM System. Thanks to these guidelines, Dexcom ONE is available on prescription from the National Health Service (NHS) in many parts of the UK.12 For those living with T2D, NICE recommends rtCGM only to people who use insulin therapy when the cost of rtCGM is equal to or lower than the cost of an intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) system.8
You might have already been offered a rtCGM system by your doctor or at your local hospital clinic. If not, you need to consult with your doctor about whether using rtCGM is the right solution for you and your eligibility for NHS funding. Be aware that there are differences between how HCPs approach rtCGM eligibility in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Take the Next Steps on Your Diabetes Journey
As you develop a diabetes management plan with your HCP, know that there are technology options like rtCGM that can support you along the way. Explore whether one of the Dexcom rtCGM Systems may be right for you.
References:
* Finger pricks required for diabetes treatment decisions if symptoms or expectations do not match readings.
† Display devices sold separately. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility
‡ Decxom rtCGM systems vary in their feature sets, refer to the User guides. To compare product features, please visit https://www.dexcom.com/en-gb/compare-cgm-systems
1 NICE Diabetes in pregnancy: management from preconception to the postnatal period: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG3]. Updated 16 December 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3/chapter/Recommendations
2 NICE Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG17]. Updated 17 August, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng17/chapter/Recommendations
3 NICE Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG18]. Updated 11 May, 2023. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng18/chapter/Recommendations
4 NICE Type 2 diabetes in adults: management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG28]. Updated 29 June 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/Recommendation
5 Diabetes: The Basics. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics
6 Type 1 diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/types-of-diabetes/type-1
7 Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/other-types-of-diabetes/latent-autoimmune-diabetes
8 Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/types-of-diabetes/type-2
9 Diabetes treatments. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/diabetes-treatments
10 Complications of diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications
11 Checking your blood sugar levels. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. Complications of diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications
12 CGMs available on prescription from August 2022. JDRF. Updated August 2, 2022. https://jdrf.org.uk/news/cgms-available-on-prescription-from-august-2022/
* Finger pricks required for diabetes treatment decisions if symptoms or expectations do not match readings.
† Display devices sold separately. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility
‡ Decxom rtCGM systems vary in their feature sets, refer to the User guides. To compare product features, please visit https://www.dexcom.com/en-gb/compare-cgm-systems
1 NICE Diabetes in pregnancy: management from preconception to the postnatal period: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG3]. Updated 16 December 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3/chapter/Recommendations
2 NICE Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG17]. Updated 17 August, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng17/chapter/Recommendations
3 NICE Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people: diagnosis and management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG18]. Updated 11 May, 2023. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng18/chapter/Recommendations
4 NICE Type 2 diabetes in adults: management: Recommendations. NICE guideline [NG28]. Updated 29 June 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/Recommendation
5 Diabetes: The Basics. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics
6 Type 1 diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/types-of-diabetes/type-1
7 Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/other-types-of-diabetes/latent-autoimmune-diabetes
8 Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/types-of-diabetes/type-2
9 Diabetes treatments. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/diabetes-treatments
10 Complications of diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications
11 Checking your blood sugar levels. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. Complications of diabetes. Diabetes UK. Accessed June 1, 2023. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications
12 CGMs available on prescription from August 2022. JDRF. Updated August 2, 2022. https://jdrf.org.uk/news/cgms-available-on-prescription-from-august-2022/
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