Over 34 million individuals in the United States have diabetes, and over 88 million have prediabetes. Diabetes has extremely expensive medical expenditures, and postponing healthcare typically leads to additional costs and health difficulties in the long term. While lifestyle modifications such as exercise and a balanced diet can help minimize the chance of developing severe diabetes, managing and monitoring the illness frequently need the collaboration of a team of medical specialists. For more information on irving primary care, speak to an expert today.
Your primary care physician is an important team member who assists you in learning the fundamentals of diabetes management, doing lab tests and physical examinations, and prescribing medication. Your primary care physician may recommend you to a specialist, such as an endocrinologist or an ophthalmologist.
Understanding diabetes
Before learning about your primary care physician’s involvement in diabetes treatment, it is crucial to understand what diabetes is and how it may be avoided. Diabetes is a long-term medical condition that affects how your body transforms food into energy. Food is converted into sugar (glucose) and absorbed into the circulation. A spike in blood sugar causes your pancreas to release insulin, which allows blood sugar into your cells for energy.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce insulin or the insulin made fails to function effectively. This results in excess sugar in the blood circulation, which can lead to health problems like renal disease, heart disease, and eyesight loss.
Diabetes care team
You are the first and most important member of your diabetes treatment team. Every day, you make lifestyle choices that may impact your health. You will also be the first to notice if you get any symptoms. Furthermore, you must have regular checkups with your primary care physician, especially if you have a family history of diabetes.
Your primary care physician, who will offer standard medical treatment such as physical examinations, blood testing, and medications, will be an important member of your diabetes care team. An ophthalmologist or optometrist, podiatrist, certified diabetes care and education expert, endocrinologist, pharmacist, registered nurse, dentist, registered dietician, nutritionist, mental health professional, and fitness professional are some people that may be on your care team.
Diabetes management with your primary care physician
Typically, the first doctor you see for diabetes is your primary care physician. If you have diabetes symptoms or family history and want to get tested, the best place to start is with your primary care physician.
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