FatCamera / E+ / Getty Images
What Is an Endocrinologist?
Endocrinologists treat diabetes, a disease of the pancreas, and diseases that affect other endocrine systems such as the thyroid, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. These diseases may include but are not limited to:
When to See an Endocrinologist for Diabetes
In certain cases, such as if you have uncomplicated type II diabetes, you may never need to see a diabetes healthcare provider because you can manage the disease through lifestyle changes with your primary provider’s guidance. In other more complicated cases, such as with type 1 diabetes, your primary healthcare provider will recommend seeing an endocrinologist.
Though your primary healthcare provider can help guide you as to whether you need to see an endocrinologist for diabetes, there are other reasons why you might choose to or need to see an endocrinologist:
Whether or not you see an endocrinologist, remember that you are the most important person on your diabetes care team. You know your body and symptoms better than anyone else.
When it comes to making the choices that impact your treatment plan—when and how you take insulin or medications, what food you eat, the exercise you do—you are in charge.
Pediatric Endocrinologists
If your child has diabetes, you become the point person for managing and coordinating the care between their primary healthcare provider, endocrinologist, and other people on their diabetes care team. A pediatric endocrinologist can help you manage your child’s diabetes in a way that makes the most sense for your entire family.
Pediatric endocrinologists treat children and adolescents and are used to interacting with children and their families. They understand how medical issues, like diabetes, can impact a child at different stages of development.
What to Expect
Initial Exam
In your initial exam, your endocrinologist may go over lab results and discuss your diagnosis. They may then prescribe medications and make sure that you are educated on how to administer these drugs properly, especially if you are prescribed insulin.
Your healthcare provider may also discuss lifestyle modifications such as a nutritional and exercise plan that can help you manage your diabetes. Your practitioner will go over any complications that could arise with diabetes and make sure you understand what is to be expected and when to seek additional medical help.
Your healthcare provider may also talk to you about how living with diabetes can affect your mental health as well. They will also make sure that your overall health is being taken care of too.
Regular Visits
During regular visits with your endocrinologist, your healthcare provider will go over your current treatment plan, ask if you have any new symptoms or concerns, and check to ensure that you are doing OK in managing your diabetes.
Sometimes, you can feel overwhelmed at a healthcare provider’s appointment and forget your concerns. You may consider writing down your questions before seeing your practitioner so that you can make sure that everything is addressed.
You should plan to see your healthcare provider at least twice a year, but more often if you are having difficulty managing your diabetes or reaching yourblood glucose, blood pressure, or cholesterol goals.
Depending on the information you provide at your regular visits and any test results they receive, they may change your treatment plan.
Managing Diabetes
While it may take time to adjust to life with diabetes, creating a self-care plan with the guidance of your healthcare provider can help you manage diabetes long-term. By taking care of yourself every day, you can live a long, healthy life with diabetes.
A typical management plan includes regular visits with your healthcare provider to check blood glucose levels and other markers of health such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Your practitioner or care team may also help you create a nutritional plan that helps you regulate blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Making sure to get regular exercise is also important to managing diabetes as is taking all medications as prescribed, even if you start to feel better. Depending on your type of diabetes, you may also need to check your blood glucose levels on a regular basis, not just at healthcare provider’s appointments.
Creating a Diabetes Team
To help you manage every aspect of your health and diabetes, you may find that creating a team of different healthcare providers can be incredibly resourceful. These health providers can include:
A Word From Verywell
Living with an illness like diabetes is not always easy, but understanding your body and the disease and how you can help your own health is key to managing it. Remember, you are the most important person on your diabetes care team. Do not hesitate to take charge.
While your primary care provider and endocrinologist can be a wealth of information, finding others who can support you in this journey can make all the difference. Surround yourself with a competent care team that you trust and rely on to help you manage.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Campbell M, Jialal I.Physiology, endocrine hormones. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing;American College of Physicians.Endocrinology, diabetes, & metabolism.University of Utah Health.When should you see a diabetes specialist?.Healy AM, Shubrook JH, Schwartz FL, Cummings DM, Drake AJ 3rd, Tanenberg RJ.Endocrinologists' opinions of diabetology as a primary care subspecialty.Clin Diabetes. 2018;36(2):168-173. doi:10.2337/cd17-0097Pediatric Endocrine Society.What is a pediatric endocrinologist?.Nyenwe EA, Jerkins TW, Umpierrez GE, Kitabchi AE.Management of type 2 diabetes: evolving strategies for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.Metabolism. 2011;60(1):1-23. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2010.09.010National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Managing diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Your health care team.Additional Reading
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Campbell M, Jialal I.Physiology, endocrine hormones. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing;American College of Physicians.Endocrinology, diabetes, & metabolism.University of Utah Health.When should you see a diabetes specialist?.Healy AM, Shubrook JH, Schwartz FL, Cummings DM, Drake AJ 3rd, Tanenberg RJ.Endocrinologists' opinions of diabetology as a primary care subspecialty.Clin Diabetes. 2018;36(2):168-173. doi:10.2337/cd17-0097Pediatric Endocrine Society.What is a pediatric endocrinologist?.Nyenwe EA, Jerkins TW, Umpierrez GE, Kitabchi AE.Management of type 2 diabetes: evolving strategies for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.Metabolism. 2011;60(1):1-23. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2010.09.010National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Managing diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Your health care team.Additional Reading
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Campbell M, Jialal I.Physiology, endocrine hormones. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing;American College of Physicians.Endocrinology, diabetes, & metabolism.University of Utah Health.When should you see a diabetes specialist?.Healy AM, Shubrook JH, Schwartz FL, Cummings DM, Drake AJ 3rd, Tanenberg RJ.Endocrinologists' opinions of diabetology as a primary care subspecialty.Clin Diabetes. 2018;36(2):168-173. doi:10.2337/cd17-0097Pediatric Endocrine Society.What is a pediatric endocrinologist?.Nyenwe EA, Jerkins TW, Umpierrez GE, Kitabchi AE.Management of type 2 diabetes: evolving strategies for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.Metabolism. 2011;60(1):1-23. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2010.09.010National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Managing diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Your health care team.
Campbell M, Jialal I.Physiology, endocrine hormones. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing;
American College of Physicians.Endocrinology, diabetes, & metabolism.
University of Utah Health.When should you see a diabetes specialist?.
Healy AM, Shubrook JH, Schwartz FL, Cummings DM, Drake AJ 3rd, Tanenberg RJ.Endocrinologists' opinions of diabetology as a primary care subspecialty.Clin Diabetes. 2018;36(2):168-173. doi:10.2337/cd17-0097
Pediatric Endocrine Society.What is a pediatric endocrinologist?.
Nyenwe EA, Jerkins TW, Umpierrez GE, Kitabchi AE.Management of type 2 diabetes: evolving strategies for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.Metabolism. 2011;60(1):1-23. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2010.09.010
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Managing diabetes.
American Diabetes Association.Your health care team.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
