Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Type 2 Diabetes

  1. What is type 2 diabetes? Is it curable?
  2. What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
  3. Does eating carbohydrates cause type 2 diabetes?
  4. Does being overweight cause type 2 diabetes?
  5. What kinds of tests are done to diagnose type 2 diabetes?
  6. Is there any special preparation I should know about before I have a blood sugar test? For example, do I need to fast?

Questions You May Consider Asking if You're Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes

  1. What caused my type 2 diabetes? Did I do something to cause it? Is it a hereditary condition?
  2. What is the difference between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia?
  3. How can I tell if my blood sugar is too high or too low? Will I have to test my own blood sugar at home? What should I do about either high or low blood sugar?
  4. What treatments are available for diabetes?
  5. Will I have to be treated for type 2 diabetes for the rest of my life?
  6. Can you cure diabetes by losing weight or exercising more?
  7. I have a family history of heart attack and/or stroke; how might that affect my health with diabetes?
  8. Does type 2 diabetes put me at risk for complications such as heart disease, blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), or kidney damage (nephropathy)? How can I avoid such complications?

Download a PDF of Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Type 2 Diabetes.