Your Health Care TeamIn centers that focus on diabetes care, health care professionals often already work as a team. Sometimes, your primary diabetes doctor (internist, family practice doctor, or endocrinologist) will refer you to other health care providers in the same clinic or a building nearby. Or you may need to work with your doctor to build a health care team, adding members as the need arises. Who do you need on your team? You The Primary Care Provider Other health care providers who provide primary care include nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who typically work in collaboration with a physician. If you are looking for a new doctor, your visit should include some time for you to get to know each other. Make sure you feel comfortable talking about the details of your health and lifestyle with this doctor. You might ask:
Your doctor's support is important. Your insurance plan may require you to get the doctor's referral for visits to the other health professionals on the team. Before you leave the office, ask the staff about other details, such as how long a wait patients usually have. Does the doctor's schedule run on time? Is there a set call-in time when you can talk to the doctor on the phone? What is the billing policy? After the visit, ask yourself:
Nurse Educator
Registered Dietitian Your dietitian helps you figure out your food needs based on your desired weight, lifestyle, medication, and other health goals (such as lowering blood fat levels or blood pressure). Even if you've had diabetes for many years, a visit to the dietitian can help. For one thing, our food needs change as we age. Nutrition guidelines for people with diabetes also change from time to time. Dietitians can also help you learn how
Eye Doctor The eye doctor will be either an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. The American Diabetes Association guidelines say you should see your eye doctor at least once a year. These checkups are the best way to detect diabetic eye disease. Your eye doctor will check for any changes in your eyes. If there are changes, the doctor will treat the problem or refer you to another doctor with special training in that area. Be sure your eye doctor is familiar with how to spot and treat diabetic eye disease. It's a good idea to ask:
Social Worker/Psychologist/Psychiatrist/Marriage and Family Therapist Social workers may be able to help you find resources to help with your medical or financial needs and should hold a master's degree in social work (MSW), as well as have training in individual, group, and family therapy. Some social worker's may even be able to help you cope with many concerns related to diabetes, including problems within the family and coping with workplace situations. A clinical psychologist who works directly with patients can have a master's or doctoral degree in psychology and is trained in individual, group, and family psychology. A few sessions with a psychologist might help during a time of special stress. On a long-term basis, a psychologist might help work on more lasting problems. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication to treat physical causes for emotional problems. Psychiatrists also provide counseling. Marriage and family therapists can help you with personal problems in family and marital relationships and problems on the job. These therapists should hold a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health field and have additional training in individual, family, and marriage therapy. Podiatrist Diabetes makes you prone to poor blood flow and nerve damage in the lower legs. You may get infections more often. Sores, even small ones, can quickly turn into serious problems. Any foot sore or callus needs to checked by your primary care doctor or a podiatrist. Do not try to fix these yourself, because you could cause an infection. But do inspect your feet daily for signs of trouble. Podiatrists treat corns, calluses, and more serious problems. Ask your podiatrist:
Dentist Exercise Physiologist The best person to help you and your doctor plan your fitness program is someone trained in the scientific basis of exercise. Your doctor can help you look for someone with a master's or doctoral degree in exercise physiology or for a licensed health care professional who has graduate training in exercise physiology. Certification from the American College of Sports Medicine is another sign that the person has the basic skills needed to plan a safe, effective exercise program. Always get your doctor's approval for any exercise program. |
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