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The Diabetes Care Team
November is National Diabetes Month, a great time to raise awareness about this serious health condition and the importance of diabetes management. Keeping diabetes under control is essential for the prevention of potentially devastating health consequences, ranging from blindness, kidney disease, and heart disease to an increased likelihood of certain forms of cancer, especially for those with type 2 diabetes.
At Health Edco, we have a dedicated line of diabetes education materials and models to help patients and students understand the importance of diabetes management. Read on to learn more about the important members of a diabetes care team and discover some of our engaging diabetes education teaching tools.
Key Diabetes Care Team Members
People diagnosed with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, will work with a variety of healthcare professionals to manage their diabetes and keep their blood glucose levels under control. Key members of a diabetes healthcare team may include:
Our popular A1C Levels: An Inside Look™ Model
is perfect to explain the A1C test to patients and students.
Our Faux Foods Diabetic Exchange Package features 39
models, including sweets, that can fit into a diabetic diet plan.
Our Effects of Diabetes Display depicts a heart attack, kidney
damage, and other complications of uncontrolled diabetes.
- Primary care provider: Often an internist, family doctor, or pediatrician when a child has diabetes, the primary care provider covers routine medical care, including regular checkups, and coordinates care.
- Endocrinologist: An endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the body’s endocrine system, which is responsible for producing hormones such as insulin, which is essential for the regulation of blood glucose levels.
is perfect to explain the A1C test to patients and students.
- Registered dietitian: A registered dietitian is a trained expert in the field of nutrition. A dietitian can help patients with diabetes by creating a healthy eating plan to help manage a patient’s diabetes effectively.
- Certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES): These healthcare professionals are highly trained and credentialed in caring for people with diabetes. A CDCES can help patients live their day-to-day lives while following routines for optimal diabetes care.
models, including sweets, that can fit into a diabetic diet plan.
- Ophthamologist or optometrist: People with diabetes should visit an eye care specialist, such as an ophthalmologist or optometrist, regularly for routine eye exams to detect any problems. Diabetes increases the risk for several types of eye disorders that can lead to blindness, including abnormally fragile blood vessels that can leak blood into the eye.
- Dentist: Patients with diabetes should visit their dentist at least every 6 months. Having diabetes can put patients at higher risk for developing gum disease. High glucose levels in saliva can promote bacterial growth in the mouth, contributing to plaque deposits on the teeth.
damage, and other complications of uncontrolled diabetes.
- Podiatrist: Patients with diabetes should visit a podiatrist (foot doctor) for regular exams of their feet. Diabetes can cause nerve damage and poor blood flow to the foot, increasing the risk of infections that can go unnoticed and can even lead to amputation.
- Exercise trainer: Proper nutrition and regular physical activity are essential to maintaining healthy glucose levels. A fitness trainer can work with people with diabetes to create a physical activity plan that is safe and effective in maximizing a patient’s diabetes management.
- Mental health professional: A psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in helping patients with diabetes can assist patients in coping with the lifestyle changes and daily challenges of living with diabetes.
overview of the essentials of diabetes management.
Of course, no diabetes care team is complete without the most important team member: the patient! To achieve successful diabetes management, patients must be active participants in their own care by following dietary and exercise recommendations, taking all medications as prescribed, keeping all healthcare appointments, and notifying their healthcare team of any problems or concerns.
Find More Great Diabetes Education Materials
Health Edco has a diverse selection of educational materials, models, and displays designed to teach patients and students about different types of diabetes, diabetic complications, and diabetes management. Learn more by visiting our section dedicated to diabetes education products and models.
The information contained in this article is not intended to replace the advice of a healthcare professional.
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