What Kind Of Doctor Treats Diabetes?

2022-09-26T17:31:56+00:00

Diabetes is a medical condition that affects millions of people. The good news is that it can be managed, so you don’t have any long-term health problems. If you have diabetes, you may be looking for an expert to help you learn more about managing your condition. Many doctors can help with diabetes:

What Kind Of Doctor Treats Diabetes?

What Is Diabetes

Diabetes is a disorder in which the body cannot properly use glucose, a type of sugar that comes from food. Glucose is the main source of energy for cells in your body. In people with diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood instead of getting into cells.

What Kind Of Doctor Treats Diabetes?

When glucose can’t get into cells, it builds up in the blood. That’s called high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Over time, having too much glucose may cause serious damage to your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.

Types Of Diabetes

  • Type 1 diabetes: This is where the body doesn’t make any insulin.
  • Type 2 diabetes: This is when your body doesn’t use insulin properly or when it stops producing enough.
  • Gestational diabetes is a lump of high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after giving birth.

There are other types of diabetes, including 

Causes Of Diabetes

Diabetes is a disorder that occurs when your body cannot make or use the hormone insulin. Insulin helps your body turn glucose into energy, which it needs to stay alive.

Some people are born with type 1 diabetes and need insulin shots to live their daily lives. Other people develop type 2 diabetes, which means they don’t produce enough insulin or their cells don’t respond well to it (which means they can’t get enough energy). 

That’s why you need medication for your body to function properly.

What kind of doctors treat diabetes

The doctor who treats diabetes is called an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in treating hormones and other internal bodily functions.

Many primary care doctors treat diabetes. 

These include 

  • Internists (general physicians)
  • General practitioners (family physicians)
  • Pediatricians

Other types of doctors that treat diabetes include:

  • Diabetes educators

These people teach people with diabetes how to manage the disease and take care of themselves. They’re often nurses or dietitians who have additional training in this area.

  • Podiatrists

Doctors who specialize in foot problems, such as bunions or hammertoes on the feet or problems with your toes or nails

Endocrinologist

An endocrinologist specializes in the endocrine system, which includes the glands that produce hormones and release them into your bloodstream. These hormones affect every part of your body, including one’s metabolism and other functions related to growth and development.

An endocrinologist is usually the first doctor a patient sees when diagnosed with diabetes or another endocrine disorder.

They may also help diagnose 

  • Thyroid disorders (such as hyperthyroidism)
  • Adrenal gland disorders (such as Addison’s disease)
  • Pituitary gland problems (like Cushing’s disease)
  • Ovary problems (such as polycystic ovarian syndrome)
  • Testicular problems (like Klinefelter’s syndrome).

Endocrinologists can prescribe medications for specific hormone imbalances or refer patients to other specialists if necessary.

For example, if you need surgery or radiation treatment for an enlarged prostate gland or cancerous lymph nodes in your neck area.

Internist (primary care doctor)

If you have a primary care doctor, that doctor is most likely an internist. Internists are doctors who specialize in internal medicine, a broad field focusing on diagnosing and treating adult diseases.

They may be board-certified in their specialty (which requires three years of training after medical school) or board eligible for general internal medicine certification.

Internists work with patients to diagnose and treat a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, including 

  • Fever
  • Infections
  • Heart disease
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Diabetes mellitus 
  • Kidney problems
  • Liver disease, and more.

General practitioner (primary care doctor)

A GP is also known as a primary care doctor. This is the kind of doctor you see when you’re sick, have an injury, or generally need medical advice. A GP can help with all your health needs, and they can refer you to other specialists if needed.

A GP may be able to help manage your diabetes if they have experience dealing with patients who are living with this condition. They may also be able to refer you to a dietitian or nutritionist for more specific advice about managing your diabetes through diet changes and other lifestyle changes.

Diabetes educator

A diabetes educator is a health practitioner who helps people with diabetes manage their condition. They can help you learn how to manage your condition through diet, exercise, and medication.

A diabetes educator will work with you to help you control your blood glucose levels. They may also be able to help you find support groups or other resources for people who have diabetes.

Podiatrist

If you have diabetes, a podiatrist may be able to help you. Podiatrists specialize in treating diseases and conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. 

They can treat foot problems related to diabetes, such as neuropathy or ulcers on your feet. They also can help prevent foot problems by teaching you about proper shoe selection and care for your feet.

Podiatrists often treat slow-to-heal wounds that don’t respond well to standard treatments such as antibiotics or incision and drainage (I&D). Because they have special training in wound care management, they may be able to heal these types of wounds faster than other doctors who don’t specialize in this area.

An eye doctor (ophthalmologist)

An eye doctor (ophthalmologist) is a medical professional who can help you manage your diabetes, and they often have the expertise and equipment to help you with the complications of diabetes.

Ophthalmologists are doctors trained in treating eye disease, including problems caused by diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. They may also be able to diagnose glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness in America today—but only if it’s treated early.

Some ophthalmologists specialize in treating eye diseases related to diabetes; these specialists are called “retinal specialists” or “diabetic retinal specialists.” Retinal specialists use tools like OCTs (optical coherence tomography) and fluorescein angiograms (FFAGs) during non-surgical examinations to help detect changes related to diabetic retinopathy before they cause permanent damage or vision loss.

An ophthalmologist is also skilled at performing laser surgery on this part of your body so that you won’t lose any more vision than necessary—and maybe even regain some lost sight!

Dietitian or nutritionist

A dietitian or nutritionist is a healthcare professional who can help you learn about the foods you eat, how to eat healthily and how to manage your diabetes. They work with people of all ages and can help with other conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

Dietitians and nutritionists are trained in food science. They will advise you on how many carbohydrates (sugar), protein, and fat you need each day, depending on your lifestyle, activity level, body weight (BMI), and medical condition.

You’ll also get information on portion sizes and general daily tips for eating healthily. 

Some doctors will refer their patients to dieticians/nutritionists before prescribing medication; others may prescribe medications first and then refer patients for further advice from a specialist in this area later after they’ve started taking medication successfully.

Many types of doctors can help you learn to manage your diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious disease and requires medical attention, but you can choose the type of doctor and treatment that works for you.

Many types of doctors can help you learn to manage your diabetes. Your choice depends on your needs and what services the doctor offers.

. For example, if you have type 2 diabetes, it may be helpful to see a registered dietitian (RD) or certified diabetes educator (CDE). Suppose you are pregnant with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes

. In that case, it’s important that an obstetrician/gynecologist with experience in treating women with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes be part of your care team.

Your health plan may require that all members use one particular type of care provider—such as a primary care physician (PCP)—but other types might also meet their requirements.

Conclusion

The best way to know what kind of doctor treats diabetes is to do some research. You can ask friends, family members, and your doctor for recommendations. If you still have questions about what treatments are available for your condition, make sure you ask them too.