Diabetes Appointment Preparation
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IMPORTANT: For virtual appointments (phone, Zoom), plan to be in Alberta and in a quiet location e.g. not working and not driving. For your safety we are unable to continue appointments virtually if you are driving a vehicle or operating other equipment. Troubleshooting tips for Zoom.
ADDRESSES & MAPS
PLEASE PREPARE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENTS
To change your appointment
Please call as soon as possible, so that we can schedule another patient who is waiting to see a diabetes educator.
- Diabetes - non-pregnancy related: 403-955-8146. (Please tell the booking clerk if you are on an insulin pump.)
- Diabetes in Pregnancy:
- Foothills Medical Centre: 403-944-2122
- Rockyview General Hospital: 403-943-3495
- South Health Campus: 403-944-9670
- Sunridge Medical Gallery: 403-944-9660
For all your appointments
If this is a virtual appointment, please be in a quiet safe place. Do not do other tasks during the call e.g. laundry. For your safety, we cannot do phone or zoom appointments if you are driving or operating other equipment.
We will:
- Ask about possible safety concerns.
- Ask about your agenda items, and determine if we can help with those
- Ask to see a glucose record.
- If you don't yet have a glucose meter or sensor, please see your pharmacist for device and coverage options
- Most glucose meters allow you to upload data to a server, in which case you may upload your device and bring a printout of your results for review with us.
- If you prefer, you may bring a written record. You may use this handout to record your results. Please check before each meal, and before bed, for the 4 days before your appointment, unless a different pattern was recommended to you.
- If you have an insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor (CGM), please upload your device before coming to your appointment. Please authorize the clinic to view your results as described in the appropriate link in this document, or bring a printout of your reports.
- Ask, if you booked for an Insulin Pump Annual Review, to review the required items listed here.
How to prepare for your first appointment with us
Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinics
- If you need to reschedule, please call the phone number listed above
- Please arrive 10 minutes early - some clinics may ask you to fill out a questionnaire
- Please have a meal or snack prior to your appointment - there is no need to fast
- You will find your appointments more valuable if you learn a bit about diabetes before coming. Please read the information on www.diabetes-pregnancy.ca before your appointment and write your questions down.
Insulin Pump Therapy
- If you are already on a pump, be sure to let the booking clerk know when you are rebooking appointments. We have "Pump Educators" for those already on pump and for those in the advanced preparation stage of starting a pump.
- If you want to investigate insulin pump therapy, or to apply to the Alberta Insulin Pump Therapy program, please read the information on our Insulin Pump Therapy page before coming to your appointment. Please bring a list of your questions. You may also wish to complete and bring some of the items listed as criteria on that page.
- Please also follow the preparation items below.
Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes (not pregnant)
- If you need to reschedule, please call the phone number listed above
- Please arrive 10 minutes early - some of our locations ask you to complete paperwork before your appointment.
- Bring or have these items ready to show or read.
- 4 days of recent glucose readings ready to show or to read out. For details, see the section above.
- 3 days of food records to show or discuss with the dietitian.
- You will find your appointments more valuable if you update your knowledge about diabetes. Please read these before your appointment and write your questions down.
- Type 2 Diabetes - The Basics - - or -- Type 1 Diabetes - the Basics
(if you aren't sure which type of diabetes you have, read the "Type 2" handout) - Diabetes Fact Sheet
- Staying Healthy with Diabetes
- Managing Your Blood Sugar
- Diabetes Resources Calgary, pages 4 & 5 especially, on when and how to find help.
- More topics if you wish, for either type of diabetes at Diabetes Canada.
- Diabetes Classes (type 2 diabetes) are encouraged. Many are virtual.
- Type 2 Diabetes - The Basics - - or -- Type 1 Diabetes - the Basics