My diabetes care team
Along with your primary care provider, your diabetes-care team may include a:
- Certified diabetes educator (CDE) – specially trained to help you understand how your medications work, teach you how to monitor your blood glucose, help you to reduce your risk for complications, and incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into your life. Your diabetes educator can also teach you to problem solve and adjust emotionally to diabetes.
- Registered dietitian (RD) – can help you create a meal plan tailored to your specific needs and lifestyle. Some dietitians are also CDEs.
- Eye doctor – conducts a dilated eye exam at least once a year to check for signs of diabetic retinopathy and examines your eyes for other problems.
- Podiatrist (foot doctor) – monitors the condition of your feet and treats foot problems such as wounds, infections, or other foot complications.
- Dermatologist (skin doctor) – treats skin problems or breaks in skin integrity that might threaten your health.
- Pharmacist – can help with coordinating your medicines and answer questions about the medicines you take. Some pharmacists are also CDEs.
- Behavioral health professional – help you with emotional stresses of adapting to and living with diabetes. Some of these professionals are also CDEs.
Personal story about diabetes care team
In short, your care is a collaboration between you and your diabetes care team. But, you are the only one who can make sure you take the right actions and make the right decisions about your diabetes care. Carrying out most of your diabetes-care plan on a day-to-day basis – taking medication, checking blood glucose, being active, and meal planning – rests on your shoulders. That’s why regular visits with your healthcare providers are so important: to keep you focused on your goals – and to remind you that you can do it!
