Can A Primary Care Physician Treat Diabetes?

Whether you are living with diabetes or newly diagnosed, gaining a deeper understanding of how to treat and manage your diabetes is essential. Diabetes is widespread and affects a staggering number of individuals. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 422 million people worldwide have diabetes.

Diabetes touches people of all ages and can occur in children and adults. In addition to impacting the body, the disease often takes a toll on a person’s mental health. Primary care physicians are often the first line of defense for treating and diagnosing diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that disrupts how the human body turns food into energy. Most food consumed is turned into sugar and released into the bloodstream. As the body’s blood sugar level rises, it signals the pancreas to release insulin.

Insulin is what the body uses to turn sugar into energy. When a person can no longer maintain a proper blood sugar level, serious health problems such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease can occur. The most common forms of diabetes fall into two groups, type 1 and type 2.

 In individuals with type 1 diabetes , the body’s immune system causes damage to the pancreas preventing the body from being able to produce insulin. Without insulin, the body cannot get glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells.

  Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body either develops insulin resistance or does not make enough insulin to regulate your body’s blood sugar level properly. When this happens, glucose builds up in the bloodstream causing high blood sugar. Most individuals living with diabetes have type 2.

While doctors remain unsure about the exact cause of most types of diabetes, genetics or environmental factors may play a role in the onset of the disease.

People with diabetes may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

Primary care providers are often the first medical professionals to discover a patient’s diabetes. This usually occurs as the result of annual check-ups and occasional sick visits, which allow your doctor to notice health changes over time that signal the potential onset of the disease.

If your doctor suspects diabetes, several tests can be used to confirm the diagnosis. Three common tests are frequently utilized to confirm a diagnosis of diabetes.

An A1c test looks at your average blood sugar levels over a two to three-month period. An A1c l greater than 6.5 indicates diabetes.

The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) requires the patient to consume a glucose drink, with periodic blood sugar level checks over the span of three hours. Levels above 200 mg/dL point to a diagnosis of diabetes.

A fasting glucose test looks at an individual’s blood sugar level first thing in the morning before a person eats or drinks anything. A blood sugar of 126 mg/dL or higher means that the person likely has diabetes.

After a diagnosis of diabetes, your doctor will continue to monitor your health.

Primary care is vital because it serves as a crucial means for preventative care , including early detection and treatment of disease and chronic conditions such as diabetes. Patients who receive regular care from a primary care doctor are more likely to receive an earlier diagnosis than patients without a primary care provider.

In addition, receiving treatment for diabetes from your primary care doctor has several benefits.

Primary care physicians are in the best position to promote lifestyle changes related to diet and exercise and to provide continual reinforcement to patients.

Primary care providers are often more accessible, offering sooner appointments than other types of more specialized providers, such as an endocrinologist.

Co-pays for primary care physicians are typically lower than those of specialists.

When prescribing medication to treat diabetes, your primary care physician can best determine which pharmaceuticals are most appropriate, considering other prescriptions you may take for any other health conditions.

Cultivating a trusting relationship with your doctor is the first step toward managing and treating diabetes. Treating your diabetes starts with talking to your primary care provider about any concerns or struggles you are having.

Be willing to talk with your primary care provider about everything related to your health, even topics that might feel uncomfortable. By providing full disclosure, you enable your physician to gain a complete picture of your health. Diabetes can affect every aspect of your health and well-being, so everything is relevant.

People with diabetes have an increased risk of depression. The stress of managing a chronic condition can also lead to anxiety. Any disruption to your mental health can undermine your ability to keep up with the self-care that diabetes requires.

Be sure to let your practitioner know if you are experiencing any feelings of depression or anxiety , especially if you find that they are keeping you from managing your diabetes.

Be prepared to share your diet and exercise routine, as this information will be helpful to your primary care physician when creating your treatment plan.

Remember, managing diabetes is an ongoing process, so be sure to attend any regular check-in appointments that your physician sets.

Having a primary care physician to treat your diabetes is vital to managing your long-term health. Colorado Primary Healthcare offers various medical treatments and services to address all your medical needs.

If you are searching for a primary care provider to treat and manage your diabetes in Littleton or the Greater Denver area, we invite you to book an appointment using our online form or by calling our office at (303) 703-8583.

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