Why a team
Diabetes affects your whole body, so your care team includes specialists from several fields. With them you'll build a diabetes management plan to stay healthy and prevent or delay complications.
Look for team members who listen, support and respect you, and who let your preferences, needs and values guide decisions. You are the most important member of the team.
The team
| Member | What they do |
|---|---|
| Primary care provider (PCP) | your general or family doctor: yearly checkups, physical exams, lab tests and prescriptions |
| Endocrinologist | treats hormone problems — diabetes affects how your body makes and uses insulin. Your PCP may refer you, and sometimes the endocrinologist is your main diabetes doctor |
| Diabetes care and education specialist | provides personalized diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) and builds a plan fitted to your health, lifestyle and culture. Ask your doctor for a referral, or find a program near you |
| Registered dietitian | a nutrition expert who helps you eat well, reach weight, blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol goals, and delay complications. Choose one trained in diabetes |
| Eye doctor | diabetes can damage the eyes' blood vessels, so get an eye exam as soon as you're diagnosed. An optometrist provides primary vision care and treats some eye problems; an ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who treats all eye diseases and does surgery |
| Podiatrist | treats feet and lower legs. Diabetes can damage their blood vessels and nerves, so a cut or blister can become a hard-to-treat infection — see a foot doctor right away about any sore |
| Audiologist | treats hearing and balance. Diabetes can damage the inner ear, so get a hearing test when diagnosed |
| Pharmacist | tells you which medicines, prescription or over-the-counter, can affect blood sugar or shouldn't be combined |
| Dentist | diabetes raises the risk of gum disease — tell your dentist you have diabetes |
| Nephrologist | a kidney specialist. High blood sugar and blood pressure can damage the kidneys over time; your PCP should check them regularly and refer you if needed |
| Mental health professional | psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and counselors help with the daily demands of diabetes and with mental health concerns |
| Exercise specialist | a physical therapist, occupational therapist or personal trainer who helps you be active safely — from structured workouts to a daily walk |
Sources
Based on "Your Diabetes Care Team," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
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