Controlling diabetes requires a multifaceted, holistic approach that addresses diet, activity levels, blood sugar monitoring, lifestyle habits, and more daily. You must become an expert on everything related to diabetes, but you don't have to do everything yourself.

One critical element is to find the right doctors to help you determine your medication. This chapter explains why consistent clinical control helps optimize health and reduce risks over the long run when you have diabetes. We’ll explore key members of a diabetes care team. You’ll learn how disciplined follow-up and open communication aid in adjusting treatment plans to keep pace with life’s changes.

Why Medical Supervision Matters

Diabetes demands complex daily decisions balancing food, activity, stress levels, health status, and more. Guidance from experts makes balancing it all much more achievable and sustainable. Here are some of the benefits of medical providers:

Oversight to meet treatment targets for blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight goals tailored to your health status. Monitoring progress prevents minor issues from becoming serious problems.
Advice on adjusting medications and tactics in response to life changes affecting diabetes control, such as job stresses, menopause, illness, or new diagnoses that destabilize glucose levels.
Early detection of subtle signs revealing vascular, nerve, kidney, or eye damage through regular physical exams, lab tests, and imaging procedures before they cause irreversible deficits.
Referrals to credentialed specialists, such as cardiologists, podiatrists, dietitians, dentists, mental health professionals, or diabetes educators, for multi-faceted care.
Screening and management of complex related health issues - obesity, fatty liver disease, thyroid dysfunction, celiac disease, hormone disorders, and many other accompanying conditions intertwined with diabetes progression.

In essence, the healthcare team surrounds you with expertise, serves as an objective checkpoint keeping your plan on track, and provides prompt intervention when needed, preventing small gaps from becoming dangerous or disabling. Consistency is key - diabetes demands diligence as blood vessels, nerves, and organs endure gradual damage without overt symptoms over the years. Regular oversight safeguards long-term wellness. The goal is to achieve a long, happy, and healthy life with diabetes without complications.

Assembling Your Health Care Team

Successfully managing diabetes and its many complications and risk factors requires an array of health providers who educate and advise on home care tactics while monitoring medical issues.

Primary Care Physician (PCP)

As team quarterback, a PCP oversees the big picture and coordinates referrals to specialty members based on your medical profile. Typically, a family medicine doctor or internist, the PCP, conducts regular physical exams, reviews lab results, prescribes and adjusts medications, orders eye, nerve, and kidney function tests, and refers patients to credentialed specialists. This quarterbacks the treatment plan.

Endocrinologist

An endocrine specialist holding advanced training in hormone imbalances and complex conditions often assists type 1 cases or difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes. They advise on tailored medication plans and pumps, address hormone disruptions, and investigate atypical responses.

Tip from my diabetes: The PCP is usually the quarterback of the team of doctors who help you manage your diabetes clinically. Personally, I use the endocrinologist more than the PCP.

Diabetes Educator

Often a nurse, dietitian or pharmacist holding special certification in diabetes care and teaching methods. They help troubleshoot daily management challenges regarding glucose meter choice, sites for insulin injections, low blood sugar prevention tactics, and emotional health strategies. Insurance covers some educator services. Ask your doctor for references.

Registered Dietitian

This licensed nutrition professional personalizes meal planning guidance tailored to your food preferences, lifestyle, and health goals. They calculate nutrient needs, offer grocery shopping guidance, explain eating-out strategies, review nutrition labels with you, and address specialist areas like pregnancy or kidney disease.

Ophthalmologist or Optometrist

Eye doctors evaluate, diagnose, and treat diabetes-related damage to the vascular system and nerves within the eye. Checking for signs of retinopathy once a year or more, even without vision symptoms, helps prevent blindness through early detection and timely treatment.

Tip from my diabetes: The annual eye check is an absolute must. Don't skip it because the eyes are one of the first areas that show the negative effects of diabetes. The earlier you find it, the better you can treat it.

Podiatrist

Lower limb specialists assess nerve function, circulation, and bone position in the feet, providing early diagnosis and treatment before problems progress. Recommend specialized shoes, orthotics, casts, braces, or surgery when deformities cause gait impairment, risking falls or skin injury. Handle toenail care and calluses safely.

Pharmacist

Medication specialists educate on proper injection techniques, pump management, oral or inhaled drug administration, and timing protocols. They screen for interactions between diabetes drugs like insulin and metformin and other prescriptions, over-the-counter products, or supplements and alert your PCP regarding concerning combinations.

Tip from my diabetes: Consider using home-delivery services like Express Scripts or Byram (in the US). It simplifies your life and also reduces your costs.

Mental Health Professional

A psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed counselor brings crucial mood disorder management guidance in coping with the daily demands of diabetes and treats accompanying anxiety, depression, disordered eating patterns, or distorted body image. They also offer stress, relationship advice, and therapy options.

Cardiologist

Heart specialists periodically assess cardiovascular risk factors and treat existing artery blockages, irregular heart rhythms, elevated lipid levels, and hypertension accompanying diabetes. Expertise in advanced diagnostics and minimally invasive interventions is pivotal in restoring blood flow and preventing heart attacks.

Nephrologist

Kidney specialists closely evaluate kidney structures and function. They also examine microscopic fluid and tissue analysis to preserve organ health. Aggressive treatment of early damage improves filtering capacity, helping avoid eventual dialysis and transplant needs.

Tip from my diabetes: The list of specialists seems long. Focus on your PCP or endocrinologist and go to your annual eye check-up. If your doctors detect additional issues, you can see other specialists. Also, consider using a mental health professional to deal with the stress that naturally comes with dealing with diabetes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, managing diabetes successfully requires taking a comprehensive approach with guidance from a team of medical professionals. While it may seem overwhelming at first to assemble all the necessary providers, doing so will pay off tremendously in helping you achieve the tight control needed to avoid or delay serious complications down the road. You can do it!

Assemble Your Health Care Team