When you have diabetes, it’s important to work closely with your doctor to manage the disease and prevent complications from developing. Good communication, a clear treatment plan, and regular visits to your doctor can go a long way toward helping you take good care of yourself and stay healthy. Here’s a step-by-step guide to talking to your doctor effectively about diabetes:

Step One: Set your targets.

Find out how and when you should test your blood sugar—and what your target blood sugar ranges are before meals, one to two hours after meals, and before bedtime. Ask how you should adjust your behavior or medication based on the blood sugar readings you receive.

Step Two: Manage your medicines.

Ask your doctor to explain why you’re taking a particular diabetes medication, how it works, how often you should take it and whether it should be with or without food, and what side effects or potential interactions you should watch out for. Are there any over-the-counter or prescription drugs you should avoid? Given your condition, should you be concerned about the sugar, alcohol, or caffeine content of any drugs you might take occasionally (such as cough syrup)? Are there any possible interactions or side effects you should be aware of with other drugs (such as anti-hypertensive or cholesterol-lowering drugs) that you may be taking for another chronic condition?

Step Three: Look at your lifestyle.

Find out how you should modify your diet, how often you should exercise, and what special measures you should take for personal hygiene (especially for your feet and mouth, which are especially susceptible to infection when you have diabetes). Also, should you try to lose weight? Should you learn new ways to cope with stress? Being overweight or under stress can increase your blood sugar and blood pressure, making it difficult to control your diabetes.

Step Four: Plan ahead.

Ask your doctor how often you should be seen for routine visits and what tests you should expect at these appointments. Also, find out how often you should see a specialist for specific exams, such as foot, dental, and eye exams. High blood sugar can cause bacteria to thrive and make you vulnerable to infections in your feet, teeth and gums, lead to circulation and cause swelling of the lens of the eye, leading to vision problems. In addition, ask what other medical conditions—like hypertension or fatty liver disease—may complicate your diabetes management.

Step Five: Fill in the blanks.

To make sure you’re not overlooking anything important, it helps to ask your doctor a few catch-all questions, such as: What else do I need to know? What stumbling blocks should I watch out for in my care? What kinds of symptoms or changes should always be reported to you?