Meeting A New Endocrinologist? Questions You May Want To Ask

Prior to selecting an endocrinologist for help with diabetes management, it’s a good idea to have a face to face, question-and-answer meeting with him or her.

Most physicians will meet with prospective patients to answer their questions, but the appointment will likely be limited to about 15 minutes. So, if the meeting is to be productive, it’s essential for patients to prepare a list of well thought-out questions.

What To Ask

Here are some suggested questions to ask an endocrinologist, or doctor at an initial meeting. It’s best to write selected questions down with enough space between them to record the physician’s responses.

  • Doctor and Staff. It’s helpful to know the physician’s experience with type1, or type 2 diabetes, and whether a certified diabetes educator, or diabetes-savvy dietician is available for consultation. It’s also important to learn who in the doctor’s office deals with prior authorizations—should there be a problem with acquiring supplies.
  • Availability. Patients should know how long routine office visits are, what the doctor recommends patients do when they become sick, and who to call in the middle of the night. Insulin users need to find out who handles insulin adjustment inquiries, and when that person is available.
  • Tests. Inquire how often patients are expected to test blood sugar levels, and how often an A1C test is required. Where the A1C testing is done, and the doctor's preferred A1C target score are also good to know. Type 1, and some type 2 patients might want the physician's guidelines for ketone testing.
  • Protocols. Learn the doctor’s protocols for treating hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), for treating glucose levels at or above 300 mg/dL, and when the physician recommends glucagon.
  • Pumps and Monitors. Patients on insulin might inquire whether the doctor is knowledgeable about today’s insulin pumps, whether he or she knows how to adjust pumps, and if pumps and meters are downloaded at each office visit. A physician’s experience with patients wearing continuous glucose monitors—also good to know.

Taking a family member or friend along to record the doctor’s responses will make an initial meeting more relaxing for some patients. Plus, it never hurts to have an extra set of ears in the room—they can pick up important information that a nervous new patient might miss.


For those whose choice of medical providers is limited by locale or insurance protocol, preparing a list of questions for the first office visit - and requesting time to ask them - may prove helpful.

Sources: Insulin Nation; Milo, Joanne Laufer, The Savvy Diabetic: A Survival Guide, 3 Dog Art Press, 2013.


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...