Test Your Knowledge

More than ever before, people with diabetes are being required to take an active role in managing the care of their disease. As health insurance plans continue to restrict or change coverage, patients need to become educated and vocal advocates to ensure they receive the best possible care from all the medical professionals involved.

There are several important aspects to maximizing treatment options and being an effective self-advocate. They include:

• Knowledge about general diabetic issues. Patients should understand the most recent diabetes-care guidelines and new treatments. Some of these guidelines change frequently. For instance, blood pressure guidelines have recently become stricter for patients with diabetes because high blood pressure is implicated in many diabetic complications. As another example, the International Diabetes Federation in 2005 tightened its recommended targets for the glycohemoglobin test, though individuals’ goals may vary depending on their condition and their physicians’ advice.
  
  In addition, patients should know financial information, such as what their insurance plan does and does not cover (e.g., glucose meters, test strips, antidiabetic agents, insulin, flu shots, insulin pump).

  

• Personal health information. Patients should keep comprehensive and current records of their glucose (blood sugar) levels, other blood tests, urine tests such as ketone testing and microalbuminuria testing, blood pressure readings, diet, exercise, foot care and other self-management routines.
  
  
• Advocacy. Patients need to take charge of their own care by keeping track of treatments and telling providers about what is working and what is not working.