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NOTE:
unless noted otherwise, all medical/health advice has been given by non-medically qualified personnel. All advice given on this site is designed to support and not replace any advice given by your personal physician. If you have questions or concerns about individual health matters or the management of your diabetes, please consult your diabetes care team.
unless noted otherwise, all medical/health advice has been given by non-medically qualified personnel. All advice given on this site is designed to support and not replace any advice given by your personal physician. If you have questions or concerns about individual health matters or the management of your diabetes, please consult your diabetes care team.
Your diabetes healthcare team will usually include the following people:
Doctor
The doctor involved in your diabetes care might be your GP or it might be a doctor at the hospital clinic - a consultant physician or diabetologist. You might see one of the more 'junior' doctors sometimes - these are Registrars, almost at the top of the ladder to being a consultant in diabetes.
The doctor will be responsible for looking after your condition from the medical or 'clinical' viewpoint. He/she will keep a close eye on your health, advising on appropriate medication and lifestyle changes, and referring you to other specialists if necessary.
See Talking to Your Doctor for further information.
Nurse
If your GP is looking after your diabetes, then the nurse involved is likely to be the practice nurse. Your district nurse may also play a role in your diabetes care.
If your diabetes care is centred at the hospital clinic then you will see a diabetes specialist nurse (DSN).
The nurse will act as your educator and probably also your counsellor. He/ she may also be responsible for coordinating your ongoing diabetes care.
Dietitian
Every person with diabetes should have access to a State Registered Dietitian. This may be the community dietitian, or one based at the hospital.
The dietitian will ask you about your usual eating habits and offer you individual advice on changes that you may need to make.
They will want to know what you are used to eating, and they will give you basic advice on what to eat in the future. A follow-up meeting should be arranged for more detailed advice.
Ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
As part of your ongoing diabetes care you will need to have your eyes checked at least once a year. This may be performed by the doctor, or by an eye specialist - an ophthalmologist. If you have had diabetes for a few years and there are some changes in your eyes then you may need to be referred to a hospital-based eye specialist for further assessment and possibly some treatment.
For more information on detecting and treating eye complications in diabetes, see Eye Complications.
Podiatrist (chiropodist, foot specialist)
The feet of people with diabetes are vulnerable to a number of problems. For this reason, you will need to adopt good foot care habits on a daily basis. You may need to see a podiatrist if you have any difficulties with your feet.
YOU!
You are the most important member of the diabetes team. The healthcare professionals can prescribe medication, give you information and offer advice - but it is up to you to build this into your life. Your daily diabetes management will be the core of your diabetes care. For a successful outcome you will need to work with the other members of the team, communicating effectively with them on a regular basis.
Other Specialists
Diabetes teams should also have access to a psychologist - a specialist in behavioural and psychological problems.
Other specialists involved in the care of people with diabetes may include kidney and heart specialists. This is because diabetes sometimes results in kidney problems and problems with the heart and circulation.
Aims of the Healthcare Team
The healthcare professionals involved in your diabetes care have two main objectives:
Your role is to build the advice that you are given into your daily life and to be in control of your diabetes on a day-to-day basis. For this to be successful you will need to establish good lines of communication with the other members of the team.
Shared Care
You will already have gathered that your diabetes care will come from a number of different healthcare professionals. In addition to this, it is possible that you will receive some of your diabetes care from your local GP surgery ("primary care") and some from your local hospital ("secondary care"), especially if you have recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This is referred to as "shared care".
- Doctor
- Nurse
- Dietitian
- Ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
- Podiatrist (chiropodist, foot specialist)
- and YOU!
Doctor
The doctor involved in your diabetes care might be your GP or it might be a doctor at the hospital clinic - a consultant physician or diabetologist. You might see one of the more 'junior' doctors sometimes - these are Registrars, almost at the top of the ladder to being a consultant in diabetes.
The doctor will be responsible for looking after your condition from the medical or 'clinical' viewpoint. He/she will keep a close eye on your health, advising on appropriate medication and lifestyle changes, and referring you to other specialists if necessary.
See Talking to Your Doctor for further information.
Nurse
If your GP is looking after your diabetes, then the nurse involved is likely to be the practice nurse. Your district nurse may also play a role in your diabetes care.
If your diabetes care is centred at the hospital clinic then you will see a diabetes specialist nurse (DSN).
The nurse will act as your educator and probably also your counsellor. He/ she may also be responsible for coordinating your ongoing diabetes care.
Dietitian
Every person with diabetes should have access to a State Registered Dietitian. This may be the community dietitian, or one based at the hospital.
The dietitian will ask you about your usual eating habits and offer you individual advice on changes that you may need to make.
They will want to know what you are used to eating, and they will give you basic advice on what to eat in the future. A follow-up meeting should be arranged for more detailed advice.
Ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
As part of your ongoing diabetes care you will need to have your eyes checked at least once a year. This may be performed by the doctor, or by an eye specialist - an ophthalmologist. If you have had diabetes for a few years and there are some changes in your eyes then you may need to be referred to a hospital-based eye specialist for further assessment and possibly some treatment.
For more information on detecting and treating eye complications in diabetes, see Eye Complications.
Podiatrist (chiropodist, foot specialist)
The feet of people with diabetes are vulnerable to a number of problems. For this reason, you will need to adopt good foot care habits on a daily basis. You may need to see a podiatrist if you have any difficulties with your feet.
YOU!
You are the most important member of the diabetes team. The healthcare professionals can prescribe medication, give you information and offer advice - but it is up to you to build this into your life. Your daily diabetes management will be the core of your diabetes care. For a successful outcome you will need to work with the other members of the team, communicating effectively with them on a regular basis.
Other Specialists
Diabetes teams should also have access to a psychologist - a specialist in behavioural and psychological problems.
Other specialists involved in the care of people with diabetes may include kidney and heart specialists. This is because diabetes sometimes results in kidney problems and problems with the heart and circulation.
Aims of the Healthcare Team
The healthcare professionals involved in your diabetes care have two main objectives:
- To direct you in the day-to-day management of your diabetes
- To detect and treat any long-term complications
- A treatment plan and self-care targets
- Regular checks of your diabetes control and of your general physical condition
- Treatment for special problems and/or emergencies
- Continuing education, information and support for you and your family
- Information on available social and economic support
Your role is to build the advice that you are given into your daily life and to be in control of your diabetes on a day-to-day basis. For this to be successful you will need to establish good lines of communication with the other members of the team.
Shared Care
You will already have gathered that your diabetes care will come from a number of different healthcare professionals. In addition to this, it is possible that you will receive some of your diabetes care from your local GP surgery ("primary care") and some from your local hospital ("secondary care"), especially if you have recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This is referred to as "shared care".
