Diabetes is a disease that affects people all over the world. In the US, there are about 38.4 million adults who have diabetes according to the CDC. This number continues to rise each year and is one of the main causes of death in America.
While there are different ways to treat diabetes, having a primary care doctor who helps manage it is really important for your overall health.
In this blog, we will talk about why seeing a primary care doctor for diabetes management is so important and how they can help people with this disease live healthy and happy lives.
What Is a Primary Care Physician (PCP)?
A primary care physician is a doctor who provides general healthcare or primary care. They are usually the first doctor you see when you have a health problem.
PCPs can treat a wide range of health issues and provide preventive care, which means they help you avoid getting sick in the first place.
What is Diabetes
Diabetes is when your body has trouble controlling the level of sugar in your blood. Normally, a hormone called insulin helps move sugar from the blood into the cells of the body. Your cells turn sugar into energy which you use to walk, talk, and live your life.
In diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin or it can’t use it properly. This leads to high blood sugar levels, which can cause serious health problems if not managed well.
There are two main types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t produce any insulin. In type 2, the body still produces insulin but your cells doesn’t use insulin effectively.
Why Is Managing Diabetes Important?
It’s important to manage diabetes so you can stay healthy. Here’s why:
- Taking care of diabetes helps prevent serious health problems like heart disease, kidney issues, and nerve damage.
- Checking your blood sugar regularly and taking medicine helps keep it at a normal level, which makes you feel better every day.
- When diabetes is managed well, you can enjoy more activities and feel less restricted by your condition.
- By avoiding complications of diabetes, you save money because you won’t need to go to the hospital or get expensive treatments.
- Managing diabetes well can help you live a longer and healthier life.
Benefits of PCP Specializing in Diabetes
Seeing a PCP specializing in diabetes provides numerous benefits for managing this condition.
Diabetes Care Plans Tailored toYou
A PCP specializing in diabetes will make a diabetes management plan just for you. They will prescribe you medicine, tell you what to eat and what to avoid. They may also suggest exercises that work for your body.
They take into account all your other health conditions. This way, your diabetes treatment is customized to help you and fits with the way you live.
Regular Health Checkups
Going to your PCP regularly helps keep track of your diabetes and overall health. This includes tracking your blood sugar levels, A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
A PCP specializing in diabetes can quickly identify any changes and adjust your diabetes treatment plan accordingly to keep your levels stable.
Diabetes Education
Understanding diabetes is crucial for managing it well. Your PCP can teach you about your condition, how to monitor your blood sugar, and how to recognize symptoms of high or low blood sugar.
They can also provide emotional support and answer any questions you have.
Preventing Diabetes Complications
Your PCP helps keep you healthy to prevent complications associated with diabetes. They check your health often to catch any potential issues early.
Blood sugar issues lead to issues in many parts of the body. Over time, diabetes can cause you to lose sensation in your fingers and toes. It can cause kidney problems, and it can even damage your eyes.
Your PCP will look at your feet, eyes, and kidney health to make sure diabetes is not causing harm to these parts of your body. A PCP specializing in diabetes can find problems quickly and take care of them right away.
Coordinated Care
Diabetes can affect many parts of your body, so you may need to see other specialists like eye doctors or kidney specialists. Your PCP can coordinate your care, making sure all your doctors are working together and sharing important information about your health.
PCP Specializing in Diabetes Near Me
Taking care of diabetes is very important for staying healthy and preventing future problems. A PCP specializing in diabetes can make a special plan just for you, offer regular checkups, provide education, prevent complications, and work with specialists if needed.
If you are looking for a PCP specialized in diabetes, look no further. At David Schumer MD and Modeline Jules NP Family Clinic, we have highly trained and skilled primary care providers who are committed to offering personalized care for both acute and chronic health conditions. We also offer regular health checkups to prevent potential health problems from occurring in the first place.
To learn more about our PCP specializing in diabetes, call (253) 804-3483 or use our appointment request form to make an appointment. We look forward to serving you!