Diabetes is a complicated disease requiring a comprehensive approach to treatment. If you were recently diagnosed with Diabetes, you would likely be surprised to learn how many health care professionals will most likely be involved in your care. Your Diabetes care team typically includes a mix of physicians and clinicians who provide treatment and educate you about the disease.
Your Diabetes Care Team
Your care team should include a primary care physician – usually a family medicine or internal medicine doctor who has experience treating people of all ages with Diabetes. Your primary care physician oversees your overall health and, in doing so, typically heads up your Diabetes care team.
Your primary care physician has likely referred you to an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in the care and treatment of all types of Diabetes. Once referred, you should also visit your endocrinologist regularly.
It is a good idea to talk to a Diabetes nurse educator about your disease. A Diabetes educator is a registered nurse (RN) with special expertise and certification in caring for and teaching people with Diabetes. Diabetes nurse educators often help you learn the day-to-day aspects of Diabetes self-care.
Because food is a major factor in your Diabetes treatment, another important member of your Diabetes care team is a registered dietician (RD). Registered dieticians specialize in the field of nutrition and can help determine your food needs based on your weight, lifestyle, medication and other health goals (such as lowering blood fat levels or blood pressure).
Diabetes can affect the blood vessels in your eyes. That’s why an ophthalmologist or optometrist should be another key member of your Diabetes care team. An ophthalmologist is an eye doctor who can medically and surgically treat eye problems, while an optometrist is a professional (but not a doctor) who is trained to examine the eye for certain problems. Even if you do not have any symptoms of eye disease, you should see an eye doctor at least once a year, because you can have symptoms of eye disease and not even know it.
Diabetes can also cause nerve damage in the extremities, and foot problems are a common complication of Diabetes. Taking care of your feet is very important for Diabetics, which is why you should see a podiatrist on a regular basis. A podiatrist is a health professional who is trained to treat feet and problems of the lower legs.
People with Diabetes are more prone to periodontal (gum) disease than someone without Diabetes. That’s because Diabetes lowers your body’s resistance to infection, making you more susceptible to chronic bacterial infections that occur in your gum tissue. To prevent periodontal disease, you should see a dentist and/or dental hygenist every six months.
If you can afford it, it is also helpful to include an exercise trainer on your Diabetes care team. Exercise plays a major role in managing your Diabetes, and a trainer can help plan your fitness program based on your doctor’s directives, your individual needs, and your personal health goals.
You Are the Key
Your Diabetes care team may include a number of health care professionals who will help you manage the disease, but you are the most important member of the team. It is ultimately up to you to monitor your blood sugar and follow the recommendations of your health care professionals to maintain your health.
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