Should I see a general doctor or a specialist if I have diabetes?

Should I see a general doctor or a specialist if I have diabetes?

Anne Peters, MD, FACP, CDE (Professor and Director of Clinical Diabetes Programs, USC Keck School of Medicine) gives expert video advice on: Does taking additional insulin correct a high blood sugar level?; Why is my blood pressure important if I have diabetes?; What are the most common causes of death for people with diabetes? and more...

Ninety-five percent of people with diabetes in the United States see a general doctor for treating their disease, and I think that it's going to stay that way because there aren't enough of us endocrinologists, and we're not exactly a field that's increasing. I think it's really important to find a good general doctor who will answer your questions and work with you. Unlike most diseases, diabetes is numeric, so you can keep track of your A1Cs, your blood pressure, your LDL cholesterol level. Take charge, bring your data to the doctor, really work with your physician to get yourself down to where you need to be, and make appointments that aren't urgent appointments. Don't just go because you're sick, go because you want to deal with the diabetes, and I think that most general doctors can manage diabetes just fine as long as you're proactive and put something of yourself into managing the disease. My caveat, though, is that if you have Type 1 diabetes or really-difficult-to-control Type 2 diabetes, that's when you may need to see a specialist. I see lots and lots of people with Type 1 diabetes because I think they need to see me - I'm adjusting their insulin, putting them on pumps, doing all sorts of things that I think requires a specialist for care. I think in that case you may want to go to a local center that's got some expertise in diabetes, but most people with Type 2 diabetes can be treated with their primary care provider.