You have figured out by now that managing type 2 diabetes means doing whatever you can to stabilize or lower the level of glucose in your blood. How? By building a diabetes-friendly diet, exercising regularly, taking any medications as prescribed, and following a glucose-monitoring plan. And that’s a lot to keep track of on your own!
The good news is you don’t have to go it alone: You can enlist a battery of professionals to show you how to get on track and stay there. Properly controlling diabetes pays off in how you feel today — and in the future.
Lower HbA1C, blood pressure, “bad” LDL cholesterol, and BMI may increase the life expectancy of the average U.S. person with diabetes by three years, research, such as an investigation published in April 2022 in JAMA Network Open, has shown.
“We know that type 2 diabetes affects most systems of the body. You’ll never find one professional who is an expert in all of those systems,” says Nicole M. Bereolos, PhD, MPH, CDCES, a psychologist and certified daibetes care and education specialist in Dallas. Dr. Bereolos was on the board of directors for the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists from 2018–2021. It may feel frustrating to have five or six providers, she says, but each of these healthcare professionals offers a different resource. “Rather, I want people to reevaluate this thought and, instead, think about optimizing care and doing the best you can with the resources available,” she says.
Of course, it’s important to note that who you see, and how often, may come down to your insurance coverage. Costs for copays can add up. And costs to see specialists if they’re only partially covered (or not at all) can quickly become prohibitive. Always check to see what your insurance coverage offers and whether new providers you want to see are in your insurance network. Ultimately, do the best with the resources you have, which includes money, time away from your daily schedule to see these providers, and an ability to get to these appointments via your own car, public transportation, or virtually over a computer with telemedicine.
If you have questions about finding specialists in your area, you can tap into a few search tools. A good place to begin is the provider finder through your insurance carrier’s website or app, which can identify those who are accepting new patients. Sesame provides direct-to-patient care through video visits, meaning you pay a flat out-of-pocket fee. And Healthcare Bluebook specializes in accurate information on what your visit will cost, so you can shop around for providers.
If time and travel are concerns, video visits can be a great option in certain cases. Because of the pandemic, many providers offer video visits when in-person care is not needed. There are also apps you can use, like Teladoc, MDLive, and Doctor on Demand to facilitate your virtual medical care. These can be used out of pocket, but check to see if your insurance covers the use of a virtual doctor visit app.
With all that in mind, here’s a list of the healthcare providers you’ll need on your team as you take up the challenge of managing type 2 diabetes.
1. Primary Care Physician for General Health Concerns
This is the person you’ll see for regular checkups, concerns that are outside the scope of diabetes, and routine care like vaccinations. When it comes to diabetes, however, the PCP plays a critical role as the central coordinator of your care, says Bereolos. That means he or she will recommend that you see a specialist for specific issues that arise, follow up to make sure that you’ve seen that person and understand what treatment you’re being offered, and help you adhere to your care plan. They should also keep a complete list of all the medications (Rx and OTC) and supplements you are taking.
2. Endocrinologist to Help With Blood Glucose Management
This doctor treats diabetes and other diseases of the endocrine system, and they can be especially important if your PCP does not work with many diabetes patients. This doctor will help you manage your blood sugar. They will assess the need for a blood-sugar-lowering medication and determine the right medication and dose for you. As the American Medical Association notes, because many of these diseases, including diabetes, are lifelong, “endocrinologists may have long and close relationships with their patients.” While this is an important doctor to have on your team, know that a June 2020 article in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism documented a shortage of practicing endocrinologists, and this can make wait times for an appointment long. To find an endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes in your area, use the Endocrine Society’s tool to locate one by zip code and subspecialty.
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