Can Your PCP Help Manage Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that influences how the body processes sugar. Diabetes also influences insulin levels and blood glucose levels. For Type 2 diabetes (T2D), consistent care and a focus on behaviors and dietary habits can influence whether the condition is considered well-managed or uncontrolled. While much of the responsibility lies on a diabetic to be intentional with behaviors and nutritional choices, working with a family doctor is a critical step that creates a treatment plan to follow.

Why care teams matter

People can live with diabetes for years, especially when the condition is well-managed. Having a diabetes health care team is critical for creating a strategy that doesn’t just tackle the disease alone, but also potential associated conditions that can occur when diabetes isn’t managed properly. For example, cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, vision issues, kidney health, and even skin health can all be impacted. Along with a family doctor, patients will often have diabetic educators, registered dieticians (RDs), pharmacists, endocrinologists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists or optometrists, cardiologists, nephrologists, and potentially a mental health professional.

Taking a macro view

A family doctor focuses on both diabetes and other conditions that might arise or be complicated by the diagnosis. This physician will focus on helping patients achieve stable blood glucose levels. More importantly, this is the health professional a diabetic will typically see most often. Factors such as how best to test glucose levels and adjusting medications as needed to manage the disease will be core focal points. This individual is also likely to undergo routine screening tests during annual physicals or regular wellness checkups.

Outlining behavioral changes

A primary care provider (PCP) is the individual who will typically see a diabetic most frequently, and reinforcing essential lifestyle changes is a core part of a diabetic treatment plan. Depending on a person’s current health at the time of diagnosis, factors such as weight, activity levels, potential stressors, and even overall mood might be more easily observed. A family doctor may also create a general dietary recommendation and refer a diabetic patient to a RD to develop a more detailed nutritional plan.

A centralized information network

Another key reason family doctors are critical is that, within the diabetic health care team, this individual can help ensure a free flow of critical medical information among the different members. Except for medical emergencies or if other underlying conditions are present, patients tend to see a family doctor the most. As a result, creating a network between providers that allows information to be shared is critical for patient care.

Everyone working together

While a family doctor is an important part of diabetes management, the patient matters too. A major part of building a diabetes care team is establishing a positive relationship with each physician on the squad. Patients should feel heard, with concerns supported and respected rather than dismissed. Building this team can take a little time, and not every diabetic will need every specialty listed earlier, but consistency and collaboration are the best strategies to keep diabetes well-managed.