Are there any questions I should ask my doctor?

Question

I am going to the doctor soon. I don't exactly know what to ask and stuff. My sisters think I might have type 1 diabetes and sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea or type 1 diabetes if you could tell me like what happens and if there's any questions or things I should ask or say to the doctor.

Answer 1

Start keeping a log of what you eat and how much.  When you get sweaty or lightheaded, if you do.  Do you have a family history of diabetes?  The doctor may want to talk to a family member about your sleep apnea and why they think you have it.  You will not be able to answer the questions because it happens while you are sleeping.  Like do you snore, do you quit breathing, do you jerk and wake yourself up, do you constantly move your legs while sleeping.  He may order a sleep test where you will be monitored while you sleep.  For the diabetes he may order a fasting blood glucose level, meaning you will not be able to eat after midnight the night before having the blood drawn, then stay there and drink some juice tasting liquid, wait a couple of hours and have your blood drawn again to see how the sugar affects your system.  Hope this helps you.

Answer 2

1. Should I check my blood sugar levels at home with a glucose monitor?

2. What are my goals regarding blood sugar levels?

3. What are the warning signs or symptoms that my blood sugars are too high?

4. What are the warning signs or symptoms that my blood sugars are too low?

5. How can I change my lifestyle and diet in a way that will be healthy?

6. What are the side effects of my medications/insulin?

7. Will I always need medications/insulin?

8. What are the long-term complications of diabetes, and how can I avoid them?

9. How do other factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure affect me if I have diabetes?

10. How often should I be seeing my doctor to optimize my diabetes management?  

Answer 3

And why do they think you might have type 1?? because you are a kid? over half of all diabetics, type 2 diagnosed last year were under the age of 15!! think about that one for a few.

What to ask the doctor?

go to http://www.diabetes.about.com and find the article on what to talk to the doctor about.  

Answer 4

If you have sleep apnoea and diabetes you should look for the other accompaniments of Metabolic syndrome as high bloodpressure,high lipids,increased waist circumference,

These features of metabolic syndrome?

Abdominal obesity (waist circumference: men > 40 inches (102 cm), women > 35 inches (88 cm)

Hypertriglyceridemia (≥ 150 mg/dL)

Low HDL cholesterol (men < 40 mg/dL, women < 50 mg/dL)

Hypertension (≥ 130/85 mmHg)  

Fasting hyperglycemia (≥ 110 mg/dL)

These along with sleep apnoea is now called Syndrome Z- the interaction of sleep apnoea, vascular risk factors and heart disease.So has to be watchful for heart attack.