When you or your child has diabetes, it's important to receive good medical care-but that first doctor's visit can be a little overwhelming! What should you expect? No matter your age or the type of diabetes you have been diagnosed with, your physician will have a clear goal for the first visit: To bring your blood glucose down to a normal level. Plan to work closely with your doctor to bring your sugar down to between 90 and 130 milligrams per deciliter before meals. A. To prepare for your appointment, you'll want to bring some basic items, B. including all the medications you take regularly. C. If you have already begun testing glucose levels, D. take your test notes and your glucose monitor. It will help to have a notepad and pen for jotting down questions during your visit. Don't hesitate to ask you are doctor if you're confused or concerned about any aspect of your diabetes! A. Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, your doctor will begin by taking a detailed medical history. B. Be ready to answer questions about past illnesses, family health, and your eating and exercise habits. C. If your child has diabetes, D. you might want to consider going over this at an earlier visit without him there. Next, your doctor will perform a routine physical examination. Feel reassured that this will be much like a standard check-up. Following the examination, you will need to give your blood and urine samples. These will assess your levels of cholesterol, fat, blood glucose and urine protein. A painless electrocardiogram, or EKG, may be administered to check the heart. At the end of your visit, your doctor will create a diabetes care plan to effectively manage the disease. This individualized plan should take into account your daily schedule, eating and exercise habits, and cultural background.. A. Your plan should detail the medications you will need to lower your blood glucose and the B. tools you will use to measure your sugar levels, like a glucose meter. The plan will also lay out lifestyle changes you may need to make, 1. like adopting healthier eating habits, 2. taking up exercise, or cutting out cigarettes Your doctor may want to refer you to other individuals who will aid you with specialized aspects of treating diabetes. These people will become part of your treatment team. Your team might include: A dietician to help you devise an effective eating plan, a registered nurse to teach you about daily living with diabetes, and, perhaps, a psychologist to help you cope with the emotional aspects of living with a lifelong disease. Expect to schedule subsequent visits every three to six months, although you may need more frequent appointments in the beginning. By working closely with your doctor, you will be able to control your sugar and return to health!