Partnering With Your Diabetes Team

A dietitian can help you learn to plan menus that help control your blood glucose.

There are a number of health care professionals who are available to help you manage your diabetes. Some of these specialists may only be available in larger centres. Often all of these specialists may be available through a Diabetes Education Centre.

Members of the health team may include:

• Your family doctor who focuses on your overall health. Family doctors can provide a referral to a specialist when necessary.
   
  
• A dietitian who can provide you with personalized guidelines regarding food choices, portion sizes and menu planning, taking into account your own preferences.
   
  
• A diabetes nurse educator who can advise you about taking diabetes medication, insulin adjustment, self-monitoring of blood glucose, foot care, physical activity, shift work adjustments and more.
   
  
• An endocrinologist or a diabetologist, who is a diabetes specialist available to you through referral from your family doctor. If you have type 1 diabetes, you should see an endocrinologist at regular intervals. Your family doctor may also refer you to an endocrinologist if you have type 2 diabetes and take insulin and/or if you are experiencing health complications related to diabetes, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
   
  
• A social worker or psychologist who can provide you and your family with support, psychotherapy or information on resources in your community that can be useful to you.
   
  
• An ophthalmologist, who is a medical doctor specializing in conditions affecting the eyes. Ophthalmology screening should be done on an annual basis, beginning five years after the onset of type 1 diabetes and at the time of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
   
  
• A chiropodist, who is trained in foot care, or a podiatrist who, in addition to specializing in foot care, can perform minor surgery on the feet. Because diabetes may affect circulation and sensation, the foot is particularly vulnerable and needs careful attention. Speak to your family doctor about a referral if nail cutting is difficult, if you have problematic corns or callouses or any structural deformities in the foot, such as bunions.
   
  
• A pharmacist, who has a record of all the medications you take and can inform you of their side effects or interactions with other medications.