List of Questions to Ask About Medications for Diabetes

Questions to Ask about Diabetes Medicines

Ask your doctor these questions when you get a prescription for a diabetes medication. Make copies of this insert and use one sheet for each of your diabetes medicines.

1. What are the names of my medicine?

   Brand name: ________________ Generic name: ________________

2. What does my medicine do?
3. When should I start this medicine?
4. This medicine is prescribed by:
5. How long will it take this medicine to work?
6. What is the strength (for example, how many milligrams, written as mg)?
7. How much should I take for each dose?
8. How many times a day should I take my medicine?
9. At what times should I take my medicine?
10. Should I take it before, with, or after a meal?
11. Should I avoid any foods or medicines when I take it?
12. Should I avoid alcoholic beverages when I take it?
13. Are there any times when I should change the amount of medicine I take?
14. What should I do if I forget to take it?
15. If I'm sick and can't keep food down, should I still take my medicine?
16. Can my diabetes medicine cause low blood glucose?
17. What should I do if my blood glucose is too low?
18. What side effects can this medicine cause?
19. What should I do if I have side effects?
20. How should I store this medicine?