endocrinologist

[My Peach Emily]

Does everybody with diabetes need to see one? How do you pronounce endocrinologist? I've never heard of this kind of dr so I'm not sure if we have any around here. I'm going to talk to my grandmothers dr and ask him about.

[archimeech]

Yes they do! Some internists and family pratitioners are very good, but it's a good idea to see one on a regular basis if you can.

From Dictionary.com

[Dewey]

I'm not sure if it is the protocol for everyone with Diabetes to see an endocrinologist, but most Diabetics I've known go to one. Personally, I've been seeing an endo since at least 1994, and prior to that, was seeing a health care team at a teaching hospital in North Central Florida.

Here's another helpful definition of an endocrinologist:

An Endocrinologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of diseases and conditions involving glands and hormones. An endocrinologist has completed medical school and has received specialty training in an area such as Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, or Obstetrics and Gynecology. Following this specialty training, he/she has completed at least two to three years of further training in the management and diagnosis of patients with endocrine diseases.
Among the many conditions and diseases that endocrinologists diagnose and treat are the following:

diabetes
thyroid conditions
metabolic disturbances
hormone imbalances
cancers that arise in glands
infertility
osteoporosis
disorders of cholesterol and lipid metabolism

They cover an array of health concerns, although some (i.e. thyroid conditions, etc.) have a tendency to go hand-in-hand with Diabetes. Definitely check into endos in the area for your grandmother. Hope this helps. :)

[KLD]

I was referred to an endocronologist by my opthamologist, not my family doctor. After my husband's sudden death due to complications of diabetes (kidney/heart failure), our eye specialist asked me if his endo was surprised by it. When I said he didn't have one, the eye doctor was shocked and said that all diabetics should see an endo. The way he put it was this: "It's my job to look after your eyes, your cardiologist's job to look after your heart, and a urologist's job to look after your kidneys, but you need someone to coordinate all that, and that's where an endocronologist comes in."

Karen

[PepsiLvr]

Some general doctors not as good as you would think / hope. Mine, for example, deserves a malpractice suit brought against him. He dxd me incorrectly for probably ~5 years saying my symptoms of neuropathy were just "flat feet" and even failed to get the bg portion of a blood test back and said "everything's fine"

When he finally did dxd me with diabetes he said it was type 2 and put me on oral meds! when eating only 5 carbs shot my bg up through the roof and my fasting bg was 180 he said "that's good, I don't need to see you again unless you have problems"

My dermatologist was finally the one who said I should see an endo and I thank him everyday for that. The endo immediately knew it was type 1 due to the blood test results (c-peptide level) Funny, these were the same results that my family doc used to dxd type 2.

The endo said I was lucky that I was still in the "honeymoon" period otherwise I would have been in DKA a long time ago.

This just goes to prove that if you can, the best thing is to see a specialist. Especially if you have a condition like diabetes.

[gettingby]

My CDE just referred me to an endo. I have my first ever appointment in January.

[Shalyndria]

Originally posted by My Peach Emily
Does everybody with diabetes need to see one? How do you pronounce endocrinologist? I've never heard of this kind of dr so I'm not sure if we have any around here. I'm going to talk to my grandmothers dr and ask him about.
It's a good idea for a Diabetic to have a team that includes an Endocrinologist. I'm sure that if you ask your Grandmother's Dr. to refer her to one, he/she would probably do so. The majority of large Canadian hospitals do employ an Endo, so I'm sure you'll be able to find one within travelling distance. Good luck!

And just to throw another spin on the whole "definition" thing:

All medical words consist of two/three parts - prefix, root, suffix. The word Endocrinologist is broken into:
endo- ...Meaning "in or within"
crin/o ...Meaning "secrete"
log/o ...Meaning "study of"
-ist ...Meaning "specializing in"
Which, loosely translated, forms "a physician who specializes in the study of glands that secrete within". :p

Shy

[Brent44a]

I would definitely recommend seeing an endocrinologist. I waited too long. I referred myself sometime last year because my insurance allows that. The team I see is, simply put, outstanding. I see all the members of the team on a rotating basis and I have 24/7 accesss to medical people that want to and can help me. Best medical decision I ever made, although I hope the decision to get the pump will supercede that!

[rzrbks]

My CDE and the diabetes Health Team at the hospital where I go understand why I WON't go to local Endos.

In fact, since my A1cs are very good and I have no other issues at this point, they see no reason for me to start worshipping at the feet of the local ones.

If/when I do start going to one, good choice will be ones in another nearby town. The local ones are God's gift to patients.

[Belinda]

I didn't always have one but once I found the one Ihave it is remarkable about how much more info he can give you about diabetes.