Mini-Lesson: Getting Ready for Your Health Care Visit

New Beginnings: A Discussion Guide for Living Well With Diabetes

What You Need to Know

Many people find it hard to get the information they need to manage their diabetes during their health care visits. Appointments can feel rushed, or there is just too much information to think about. Being prepared with questions to be answered or ideas to discuss can help people with diabetes get the most out of their health care visits.

This lesson will help participants get ready for visits with their health care team. It includes a short video, discussion, and activity.

How to Use This Mini-Lesson

This lesson has resources and questions to lead a small group discussion with people who have diabetes. It can be used as part of an existing class or as a stand-alone activity. This discussion can be led by a diabetes care and education specialist, health educator, community health worker, peer counselor, or anyone with training and experience leading support groups and group education.

Discussion Time: 15 minutes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to

  • Identify at least three actions they can take before and during a visit to their health care team.
  • Identify at least three questions they would want to ask a health care provider during a visit.

Key Message

  1. Preparing for health care visits by writing down questions and bringing a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements can help people with diabetes get the most out of each visit.
  2. It is important that people with diabetes be their own best advocate for how they feel and what they think. Speaking up and asking questions, especially if something seems confusing or unclear, is important.

Going Virtual Tips

  • Take a few minutes at the beginning of the session to explain the features of the video teleconferencing platform and the ground rules for virtual sessions. For example:
    • Mute video or phone when not speaking.
    • Say your name before speaking (especially on the phone).
    • Participants are not required to have or use a video camera. They can submit photos of themselves instead. This may make group members more comfortable.
  • Discuss if and how group members are engaging with their health care providers through telehealth. Use the interactive whiteboard feature to write down ideas for how to better prepare for telehealth visits.
  • The video for this mini-lesson can be played by sharing your screen (and computer audio) through your video teleconferencing platform. Another option is to share the links to the videos with your group members by email before the session starts.

Handouts

Session Outline

Group Leader Instructions

Group Leader Instructions

Group Leader Instructions

Talking Points and Discussion Questions

Talking Points and Discussion Questions

Talking Points and Discussion Questions

Discuss:

Group Leader Instructions

Discuss:

What are some things you could have done differently during that visit so that you got more out of it?

Talking Points and Discussion Questions

What are some things you could have done differently during that visit so that you got more out of it?

Give each participant a copy of Steps to Help You Stay Healthy

Point out the diabetes care record and action plan.

Group Leader Instructions

Give each participant a copy of Steps to Help You Stay Healthy

Point out the diabetes care record and action plan.

One way to get the most out of your visit is to get ready for it in advance.

This handout describes topics to talk about at your next visit. It has a place to write down test results, goals, and other information so you can review this information with your health care provider. You can take this handout with you to each visit.

If you don’t want to write down these items on paper, you can use a notes app on your smartphone.

Talking Points and Discussion Questions

One way to get the most out of your visit is to get ready for it in advance.

This handout describes topics to talk about at your next visit. It has a place to write down test results, goals, and other information so you can review this information with your health care provider. You can take this handout with you to each visit.

If you don’t want to write down these items on paper, you can use a notes app on your smartphone.

Review:

Group Leader Instructions

Review:

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your visits:

  • Think about your questions ahead of time. Write them down and give the list to the health care provider at the start of the visit.
  • Invite a family member or friend to go with you to take notes for you. That way, you can focus on talking with your health care provider.
  • Bring a list of your medicines and descriptions of how you are taking them. For example, how many pills you take, and at what time of day you take them.
  • Tell your doctor about any nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal remedies you are taking.
  • Be honest. Tell the doctor if you miss taking your pills, how often, and why. For example, you can’t remember to take the one at bedtime or the medicine upsets your stomach if you take it in the morning.
  • Bring your blood glucose monitoring booklet. This is where you write down your blood sugar measurements. This information may also be stored in your smartphone.
  • Take your shoes and socks off and ask the doctor to check your feet.
  • Talk to your doctor about your ABCs (A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels). Discuss your current levels and your goals.
  • Ask about other tests that are recommended for people with diabetes to have on a regular basis. This includes eye, ear, foot, and dental exams.
Talking Points and Discussion Questions

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your visits:

  • Think about your questions ahead of time. Write them down and give the list to the health care provider at the start of the visit.
  • Invite a family member or friend to go with you to take notes for you. That way, you can focus on talking with your health care provider.
  • Bring a list of your medicines and descriptions of how you are taking them. For example, how many pills you take, and at what time of day you take them.
  • Tell your doctor about any nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal remedies you are taking.
  • Be honest. Tell the doctor if you miss taking your pills, how often, and why. For example, you can’t remember to take the one at bedtime or the medicine upsets your stomach if you take it in the morning.
  • Bring your blood glucose monitoring booklet. This is where you write down your blood sugar measurements. This information may also be stored in your smartphone.
  • Take your shoes and socks off and ask the doctor to check your feet.
  • Talk to your doctor about your ABCs (A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels). Discuss your current levels and your goals.
  • Ask about other tests that are recommended for people with diabetes to have on a regular basis. This includes eye, ear, foot, and dental exams.

Activity:

Group Leader Instructions

Activity:

Think-Pair-Share: Visiting your health care provider

The goal of this activity is for participants to prepare questions they would like to ask at their next visit to a health care provider.

Ask participants to review the handout and think about questions they would like to ask their health care provider. They can circle the issues they would like to discuss or write down their questions on the diabetes care record and action plan handout.

Ask participants to pair up with another group member and share their questions.

Ask one person from each group to share their questions.

Talking Points and Discussion Questions

Think-Pair-Share: Visiting your health care provider

The goal of this activity is for participants to prepare questions they would like to ask at their next visit to a health care provider.

Ask participants to review the handout and think about questions they would like to ask their health care provider. They can circle the issues they would like to discuss or write down their questions on the diabetes care record and action plan handout.

Ask participants to pair up with another group member and share their questions.

Ask one person from each group to share their questions.

Summarize:

Group Leader Instructions

Summarize:

You are the most important member of your health care team. Health care providers are there to help you manage your diabetes.

You can make the most of your visits with health care providers by getting ready for them ahead of time.

Think about what questions or issues you would like to discuss with your team and write them down.

Be sure to bring a list of medicines you’re taking your diabetes self-care records.

Talking Points and Discussion Questions

You are the most important member of your health care team. Health care providers are there to help you manage your diabetes.

You can make the most of your visits with health care providers by getting ready for them ahead of time.

Think about what questions or issues you would like to discuss with your team and write them down.

Be sure to bring a list of medicines you’re taking your diabetes self-care records.

Close the session

  • Take final questions.
  • Thank the group for their participation.
  • Ask participants to go home and review the list of questions they want to ask at their next health care visit with their family members.
  • Remind participants about the next session. Ask if they have specific questions or issues they would like addressed.
  • Ask participants to do the session evaluation.
Page last reviewed: May 18, 2022