How to Prepare for a GLP-1 Appointment
What to track, bring, and ask — for first appointments and follow-up visits.
- ✓Appointment time with a prescriber is limited — written preparation gets more out of it.
- ✓Bring a list of all current medications and supplements.
- ✓Track relevant data (weight, blood sugar if applicable, side effects) before your appointment.
- ✓Write down your questions in priority order — most important first.
- ✓Know your insurance situation before going — it often comes up.
Before a First GLP-1 Appointment
If you are seeing a prescriber specifically to discuss whether a GLP-1 medication is appropriate for you, preparation helps the provider understand your situation quickly and helps you get the information you need.
What to Bring
- A complete list of current medications, including doses, and any vitamins, supplements, or OTC products you take regularly
- Relevant medical history — existing diagnoses, particularly if you have conditions that may be relevant (e.g., thyroid conditions, history of pancreatitis, gallbladder issues)
- Your insurance card and information — GLP-1s often require PA and prescribers may check coverage
- Recent lab results if you have them (A1C, lipid panel, kidney function)
- Your written question list — see our questions guide
What to Know Going In
- What condition you're hoping to treat (your provider will need to confirm this aligns with an approved indication)
- Your insurance type (commercial, Medicare, Medicaid) — this affects whether certain manufacturer savings programs are available
- Whether you have any concerns about injection-based administration
Before a Follow-Up Appointment
Follow-up visits let your provider evaluate how the medication is working and make adjustments. Useful data to track and bring:
Side Effect Log
Note any side effects you've experienced, how long they lasted, and how significant they were. If you had to skip a dose because of side effects, note that too.
Dose Log
Note any missed doses or delayed doses. If you had trouble with injections or the pen device, mention it.
Relevant Measurements
Depending on what your provider asked you to track:
- Weight (with consistent timing — same time of day, same conditions)
- Blood glucose readings if applicable
- Blood pressure if applicable
Questions That Have Come Up
Keep a running note of questions between visits. Things that seem minor — a question about timing, about an ingredient in something you ate, about a co-medication — are worth asking. Providers would rather you ask than guess.
On the Day of the Appointment
- Arrive a few minutes early if you have paperwork
- Lead with your highest-priority questions — if time runs short, you'll have covered what matters most
- Ask about the patient portal if you want to follow up with non-urgent questions between visits
- Ask when your next appointment should be and what you should track in the meantime