I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes five years ago, and I've had to make considerable changes to my lifestyle to maintain my health since I was diagnosed. I started this blog to share my experience of coming to terms with having type 2 diabetes and what I've learned on my personal journey. I share details of the lifestyle changes I've made, including giving up smoking and eating more wholefoods, and my personal experience of using alternative treatments, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. I also post about new treatments that are becoming available for type 2 diabetes. I hope you find my blog useful and informative.
A visit to the GP isn't always fun because it means that something is wrong with you. But with appointments getting shorter and more rushed, patients need to know how to get your value from these visits. Bear in mind that your appointment time will be short, so follow these clever tips to maximise the limited time you have with your GP.
Make Notes Of Your Symptoms To Avoid Forgetting Them Inside The GP's Office
Many patients tend to walk into the GP's office to discuss their illness and symptoms, only to forget some of them in the rush. This can be incredibly frustrating because you may have to make another appointment to discuss your forgotten symptoms. To avoid this constant back and forth, it's more prudent for you to make notes of all your symptoms. This way you can present them to your GP in a more organised manner, allowing the doctor to make a more informed assessment of your condition. Keep in mind that if you have a number of different issues, then you may have to book another appointment with your GP anyway for more time to get to the bottom of the problem.
List Down All The Prescribed And Over-The-Counter Medications You Are Taking
Never assume that the medication you're taking has nothing to do with your current illness. Your best option is to list down all the prescribed and over-the-counter medications you are taking, so that your GP can make an accurate diagnosis. For instance, any diabetes medication may interfere with medications for fever and coughs. If you take any medications for allergies, this could affect the type of medication prescribed for other health conditions. Let your doctor know everything you are taking to avoid any adverse reactions later. Since you have limited time with your GP, listing down your medications will help in quicker and more accurate treatment assessment.
Discuss Only The Important Issues Without Digressing
Always discuss the important issues you have with your GP first without digressing or feeling the need to justify your visit. If you leave information about your main concerns or symptoms to the end, the GP will not have enough time to correctly diagnose your problem and you will have to make a second appointment anyway. If you're looking to avoid this, stick to the point from the beginning and only discuss the issue you've come for.
Follow these clever tips to maximise your limited time with your GP. For more information, contact professionals like Travellers Medical Services.
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