Your Doctor Conversation Starter
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YOUR DOCTOR CONVERSATION STARTER

If you’re not sure about how to talk openly with your doctor about what’s most important in managing type 2 diabetes—how you’re feeling, your treatment plan, medications, and any special issues—you can create your own doctor conversation starter to make it easier.

It’s simple! With a few clicks, you can personalize your Doctor Conversation Starter to help you prepare for each doctor visit. It works whether it’s your 1st or 50th visit since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Choose as many or as few topics as you want. You’re in control.



Merck & Co., Inc., respects your privacy. Any information you enter will be used only for the purposes of this Doctor Conversation Starter and will not be sent to, shared with, or retained in any form by Merck & Co., Inc., or any other parties.

How I'm Feeling
1. In general, I'm feeling:
Well
Unwell
A mix of well and unwell
2. My general energy level is:
High
Medium
Low
Varied (sometimes high, sometimes low)
3. My sleep is:
Mostly sound and satisfying
Mostly restless
Disturbed—I have frequent insomnia
What I'm Taking

1. My Medications

It's important to tell your doctor about every medication you are taking and your dosage of each one, if you know it. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications (for example, aspirin, antacids), and vitamins and herbal supplements.

Just place all of your pill bottles in a plastic bag and take them with you.

Or, if it's easier, add this blank My Medications form to your Doctor Conversation Starter printout and list your medications on it.

Medication How much daily? Change since last visit? Date started Type

2. My Diabetes Medication:
    Since my last visit, I've been taking it:
Every day, as indicated
Most days, although I’ve missed a few days
Some days—I've missed many days and want to talk to my doctor about ways to help me remember to take it.













How I’ve Been Doing
1.  My Blood Sugar

My blood sugar target: Morning  Before meals  After meals

My most recent A1C:  My A1C target: 

Bring a record of your daily blood sugar test results or your glucose meter with the stored information.

Number of days since last visit with 1 or more readings higher than target: 

Number of days with 1 or more readings lower than target: 
2.  Healthy Eating
Since my last visit, I've followed my plan for healthy eating:
Very well, and I'm proud
Not as well as I want to, but I'm making progress
Not well at all—I've missed my nutritional goals by a lot and want to talk to my doctor about ways to do better
3.  Activity & Fitness
Since my last visit, I've met my personal goals for physical activity:
Almost every day
Not as often as I want to, but I’m making progress
Not well at all—I've missed my goals by a lot and want to talk to my doctor about ways to do better
Questions for My Doctor
What are my treatment options?
What is my target A1C (measurement of blood sugar over time)?
What is my target blood pressure? How do I get there?
What is my target cholesterol? How do I get there?
How many times a day should I test my blood sugar?
What's the best way for me to test my blood sugar?
Why is lowering my blood sugar so important?
What are the most important things I can do to help lower my blood sugar?
Do I need to lose weight? If so, how much?
Will I notice any warning signs if my blood sugar is too high or too low?
How much exercise should I get? Which exercises are best for me?
What tests do I need to have done to check my eyes, feet, kidneys, nerves, and heart?
Should I attend a class taught by a diabetes nurse educator? How can I find such a class in my area?
Is JANUMET right for me?
Other Things I Want to Talk About
Changes in my health since my last visit
Other health problems not related to diabetes
Risks of other diseases
Things happening with friends and family or at work that worry me
How to pay for my medication
Where I can learn more about managing type 2 diabetes
How JANUMET can help lower my blood sugar

JANUMET tablets contain 2 prescription medicines: sitagliptin (JANUVIA®) and metformin. JANUMET can be used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Your doctor will determine whether JANUMET is right for you.

JANUMET should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine). If you have had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), it is not known if you have a higher chance of getting it while taking JANUMET.

Selected Risk Information About JANUMET
Metformin, one of the ingredients in JANUMET, can cause a rare but serious side effect called lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactic acid in the blood), which can cause death. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency that must be treated in a hospital. Stop taking JANUMET and call your doctor right away if you get any of the following symptoms of lactic acidosis: you feel very weak or tired; have unusual (not normal) muscle pain; have trouble breathing; have unusual sleepiness or sleep longer than usual; have sudden stomach or intestinal problems with nausea and vomiting or diarrhea; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy or lightheaded; or have a slow or irregular heartbeat.

You have a higher chance of getting lactic acidosis if you have kidney problems, liver problems, or congestive heart failure that requires treatment with medicines, or if you drink alcohol very often, drink a lot of alcohol in a short period of time, or get dehydrated (lose large amounts of body fluids).

Pancreatitis is another serious side effect that can happen in people taking JANUMET. Pancreatitis may be severe and lead to death. Before you start taking JANUMET, tell your doctor if you've ever had pancreatitis. Stop taking JANUMET and call your doctor right away if you have pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that is severe and will not go away. The pain may be felt going from your abdomen through to your back. The pain may happen with or without vomiting. These may be symptoms of pancreatitis.

Do not take JANUMET if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in JANUMET. Allergic reactions, which may be serious, including rash; hives; and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing, can occur. If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking JANUMET and call your doctor right away.

Do not take JANUMET if you are going to receive an injection of dye or contrast agent for an x-ray procedure or if your kidneys are not working properly. Your doctor will do blood tests before and during your treatment with JANUMET to see how well your kidneys are working.

If you take JANUMET with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), such as a sulfonylurea or insulin, your risk of getting low blood sugar is higher. The dose of your sulfonylurea or insulin may need to be lowered. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heart beat, sweating, and feeling jittery.

Common side effects when taking JANUMET include stuffy or runny nose and sore throat, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, gas, upset stomach, indigestion, weakness, and headache.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read the Medication Guide and discuss it with your doctor. Also available is the Prescribing Information.

JANUMET and JANUVIA® (sitagliptin) tablets are registered trademarks and Steps to Balance is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.
This site is intended only for residents of the United States , its territories, and Puerto Rico.
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