Healthcare Team

There are many people who will be part of your healthcare team. A healthcare team is a group of people that will help you learn about diabetes and how to take good care of yourself. The team needs you to tell them how things are working and when you need help. You are the key member of the team. If there is not already a team in place for you, you can build one for yourself. Look for healthcare team members at your local hospital, diabetes clinic or call the American Diabetes Association for information.

Learn more about:

• Who should be part of my healthcare team?
• How often should I see my team?
• What will my team and I look for, and when?
• What else should I talk to my healthcare team about?

Who should be part of my healthcare team?

People on your healthcare team may include:

Diabetes Nurse Educator

A healthcare professional who can teach you about the day-to-day care of your diabetes. Among many things, the nurse educator can teach you:

• about diabetes and how it affects you
• how to test your blood sugar
• how pills can help blood sugar control
• how to take insulin, if you need it
• how to keep track of your blood sugar control
• about high and low blood sugar
• how to prevent complications

It is a good idea to ask the diabetes nurse educator about classes you can take. You should take some kind of diabetes class every year because diabetes care is changing for the better all the time.

Dietitian

An expert in food and nutrition, the dietitian will help you find a meal plan that works for you. The dietitian can teach you how to:

• make up a meal plan
• use a meal plan
• read food labels
• grocery shop
• choose healthier foods when you eat out
• find a good cookbook that suits your needs
• change the recipes you love to make them better for you

It is a good idea to see a dietitian every 6 months, or when you have problems or questions.

Doctor, Physician's Assistant or Nurse Practitioner

This professional, along with yourself, will lead the healthcare team. In addition to a primary care doctor, some may also want to go to an expert called an endocrinologist or diabetologist.

Your doctor will talk to you about:

• your treatment plan and goals
• the need for education
• lab tests and results
• other healthcare team members

Pharmacist

An expert in drugs and how they affect your body, the pharmacist can teach you about:

• whether to take your medicine with meals or not
• what side effects to watch for
• what other drugs might not go with your diabetes medicine
• how to store your drugs
• what over-the-counter drugs are best for you

Podiatrist

Trained to take care of foot and lower-leg problems, your foot doctor (called a podiatrist) can help you learn about caring for your feet and is the best person to treat any of your foot problems. The podiatrist will talk to you about:

• how to do daily foot care
• how to take care of your feet and legs
• problems and how to avoid them

Support Groups

Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who knows what it's like to live with diabetes. Ask your healthcare team about local support groups.

Your Family and Friends

Anyone who will support you is part of your team. Let these people help you take good care of yourself. It is a good idea to have a family member attend diabetes-education classes with you. This will not only give you a second set of eyes and ears, but you will have someone to help you who understands how hard take-charge management can be.

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How often should I see my team?

Of course, you will see your family and friends everyday. They will give you lots of support and help you take care of yourself in many ways. You will see your pharmacist almost as often as you visit the pharmacy, and you can ask many questions while you are there. You will likely need an appointment to see the other members of your team.

The team approach is the key to making take-charge management work for you. How often you see your doctor will depend on your health and your treatment plan. With type 2 diabetes, 2 to 4 visits a year are best. If you are having problems or making changes in your treatment plan, more visits may be needed.

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What will my team and I look for, and when?

There are many things you and your healthcare team need to check to make sure your diabetes is in good control. Some things need to be checked every day, and others only once or twice a year. Your healthcare team will help you set your goals. Here are some take-charge items you can print out, keep track of and check with your team:

	Item		Best result				How often
	Review your blood sugar records						Every visit
	Blood sugar (serum/plasma reference)
	Fasting		80-110 mg/dL
	Pre-meal		80-110 mg/dL
	Post-meal (1-2 hours)		Less than 140 mg/dL
	Bedtime		100-140 mg/dL
	A1C (3-month test)		Less than 6.5%				Every 3 mos
	Tests for lipids (blood fats)
	Total cholesterol		Less than 200 mg/dL				Every year
	LDL cholesterol		Less than 100 mg/dL				Every year
	HDL cholesterol		More than 45 mg/dL				Every year
	Triglycerides		Less than 200 mg/dL or less than 150 mg/dL (if you have heart disease)				Every year
	Blood Pressure		130/85				Every visit
	Weight						Every visit
	Foot exam						Every visit
	Microalbumin (urine kidney test)						Every visit
	Dilated eye exam						Every visit
	EKG						As needed

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What else should I talk to my healthcare team about?

• Flu shot (Is it a good idea for me and when?)
• Pneumonia vaccine (Is it a good idea for me?)
• Smoking (How do I quit?)
• Nutrition (How do I make the right food choices?)
• Medications (Which ones should I take and how do I take them?)
• Exercise (How do I make it part of my day?)
• Weight (How do I maintain a healthy weight?)
• Complications (How do I prevent them?)
• Cardiovascular risk reduction (What are the risk factors?)
• High and low blood sugars (How do I prevent them and how do I treat them?)
• Sick-day action plan (What do I do when I am sick?)
• Diabetes education (What else can I learn?)

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