3 Specialists Every Diabetic Should See

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When a person has diabetes, it's not just their blood sugar levels they have to worry about. Unfortunately, diabetes affects various organs and other parts of the body. For this reason, most diabetics need to be monitored closely by a physician. Besides their primary doctor, diabetics usually need an entire healthcare team of specialists.

Here are three specialists that every diabetic should see.

1. Ophthalmologist

Diabetes can have a dire effect on one's vision. For this reason, it's important for a diabetic to keep up with routine vision exams. Seeing an optometrist is a good idea, but diabetics should also consider seeing an ophthalmologist. This type of eye doctor diagnoses and treats eye disease.

A few eye diseases that diabetics are at risk of getting include:

  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma
  • Diabetic retinopathy

The sooner vision problems are detected, the more easily they can be treated. If any of these disorders is left untreated, it could result in poor vision and even blindness.

2. Podiatrist/Ankle Specialist

Many diabetics are prone to having foot and ankle problems. When diabetes is not controlled, it causes damage to the nerves in the feet. It can also cause a condition called peripheral vascular disease, which is the result of poor blood flow. This poor circulation can cause the bones and joints in the feet and ankle to disintegrate.

Other common foot problems associated with diabetes include:

  • Athlete's foot
  • Fungal infections in the toenails
  • Bunions and blisters
  • Diabetic ulcers

If foot problems go untreated, it can result in amputation. To stay on top of foot problems, diabetics should see a podiatrist and an ankle specialist.

3. Nephrologist

One of the organs of the body that diabetes has a negative effect on is the kidney. This organ is responsible for filtering waste products, balancing fluid levels, and making red blood cells. Increased sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels inside the kidneys. When the kidneys become damaged, it leads to chronic kidney disease.

If blood sugar levels remain out of control, the kidney disease can turn into kidney failure. At this stage, the only way for a person with diabetes to remove waste from their blood is with a type of treatment called dialysis. Because diabetes has such a detrimental effect on the kidneys, it's important for them to see a kidney specialist, also known as a nephrologist.

Other kinds of specialists that a diabetic might consider seeing include a cardiologist, endocrinologist, and nutritionist.

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29 November 2019

Making Health Care A Priority

When it comes to taking care of yourself, some people only think about what they should avoid. However, making health care a priority is as much about preventing as it is about treating existing conditions. When I learned that I had skin cancer a few years ago, all I could think about was all of the sunblock I never put on. I want you to understand how to prevent problems, so that you can live a better life. Check out these articles to understand how to make health care a priority, and when you should visit with your doctor. It might seem like a small decision, but doing a little reading might make all the difference later.