Working with Your Diabetes Healthcare Team

Managing diabetes works best when you have a team of people supporting you. Because diabetes can affect many parts of the body, a team-based approach helps prevent heart disease and other complications.

You are the most important member of your care team. Your healthcare team depends on you to share how you’re feeling, ask questions and follow your care plan. You may work with several healthcare professionals, each with a different role in helping you stay healthy.

To get the most from your care, it helps to:

Your healthcare team

Family doctor (general practitioner)

Your family doctor is often the main point of contact for managing diabetes. If you have diabetes, it’s important to see your family doctor more than once a year. Your doctor’s office may also include nurse practitioners or physician assistants who help support your care.

Your family doctor and care team can help by:

  • Sharing clear information about diabetes and how to manage it
  • Looking at your overall health, not just blood sugar
  • Talking with you about lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and physical activity
  • Referring you to other specialists when needed, like dietitians, diabetes educators, or heart and kidney doctors 

To better understand your health, you might ask:

  • What is my current blood sugar level, and what should my target be?
  • What is my blood pressure, and what is a healthy goal for me?
  • What are my cholesterol numbers, and what do they mean for my heart health?
  • Is my weight in a healthy range? What would be a good goal for me?
  • Am I at risk for heart disease or stroke, and what warning signs should I watch for?
  • What kinds of foods should I eat more often? What should I limit?
  • What type and amount of physical activity is safe and helpful for me?
  • What medications do I need to take, and how do they help manage my diabetes? Do I need to change what I am taking now?

Your family doctor guides your diabetes care and connects you with the right support when needed. Building a strong, open relationship with your doctor can help you stay informed, confident and supported as you manage your health.

Diabetes educators

Diabetes educators are healthcare professionals who teach and support people living with diabetes. They provide diabetes self-management education and support, which helps you learn the skills you need to manage diabetes day to day.

Diabetes educators come from many backgrounds. They may be:

  • Nurses
  • Dietitians
  • Pharmacists
  • Doctors
  • Exercise specialist
  • Podiatrists (foot doctors)
  • Social workers

They may help you:

  • Learn healthy eating and physical activity habits
  • Understand how your diabetes medications work
  • Check and track your blood sugar safely
  • Lower the risk of diabetes-related complications
  • Work through daily challenges, including stress and lifestyle changes
  • Create a personal diabetes plan that first your schedule, lifestyle and goals

Their goal is to help you feel more confident and supported as you care for your health.

You might ask a diabetes educator:

  • What do my blood sugar results mean?
  • When should I call my doctor about my numbers?
  • What kinds of physical activity are right for me?
  • What should I know about healthy eating and meal planning?
  • What is my “sick day” plan?
  • What should I do if I get sick while at work or school?
  • How do my diabetes medications interact with other medications or over-the-counter products?
  • What should I do if I forget something we talked about?

There are no bad questions. Diabetes educators are there to help you learn and feel supported. Find a diabetes educator near you(link opens in new window).

Registered dietitians

Registered dietitians are food and nutrition experts who can help you understand how what you eat affects your blood sugar and overall health. They work with you to create meal plans that fit your taste preferences, health needs, culture, budget and daily routine. Managing food choices can feel confusing without help. Dietitians have specialized training and real-world experience, and they keep their nutrition knowledge up to date through continuing education. Their role is to support you, not to judge your food choices.

A registered dietitian can help you:

  • Understand how different foods affect your blood sugar
  • Plan meals and snacks that fit your lifestyle
  • Learn portion sizes and timing of meals
  • Manage food choices during illness, travel or special events
  • Enjoy food while still supporting your diabetes care

When you meet with a dietitian, you might ask:

  • How does food affect my blood sugar?
  • Can I still eat foods with sugar?
  • How can I eat and keep my blood sugar in a healthy range?
  • Why does eating consistent portions at regular mealtimes matter?
  • How much of each food group should I eat each day?
  • What should I eat when I’m sick?
  • Are there foods I can enjoy more often?
  • Is alcohol safe for me, and how should I manage it?

There are no “wrong” questions. A dietitian is there to help you feel confident and supported.

Learn more about what dietitians do and find one near you(link opens in new window).

Pharmacists

Pharmacists are an important part of your diabetes care team. They can help you understand the medications you take for diabetes and other health conditions, and show you how to take them safely and correctly. Pharmacists are trained to answer questions about medications, spot possible problems and help you feel more confident about your treatment.

Here are some simple ways to get the most help from your pharmacist:

  • Try to fill all prescriptions at the same pharmacy. This keeps your medication records in one place and helps your pharmacist check for how drugs affect one another.
  • Ask your pharmacist before taking over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements, since some can interact with prescription drugs.
  • Read medication labels carefully. If something looks different than expected, ask your pharmacist to double-check it.
  • Let your pharmacist and healthcare team know about any medication or food allergies.

To help manage your medications, you may want to ask your pharmacist:

  • When is the best time to take this medication?
  • Should I take it before or after I eat?
  • How might this medication work with my other medications?
  • Are there any foods or drinks I should avoid?
  • What side effects should I watch for?
  • How should I store this medication?
  • What if I miss a dose?
  • Is there a generic (lower-cost) version available?

Pharmacists are there to help. Asking questions is a smart part of caring for your health. 

Endocrinologists (hormone doctors)

Endocrinologists are doctors who specialize in conditions that affect the body’s hormones, including diabetes. They also treat thyroid problems and other hormone-related conditions.

Some people with diabetes see an endocrinologist when:

  • Blood sugar is hard to manage
  • Treatment plans need adjusting
  • Specialized diabetes care is needed

In some cases, an endocrinologist may become your main doctor for managing diabetes. They work with you and your care team to choose the best treatment plan and help keep our blood sugar and overall health on track.

Podiatrists (foot doctors)

A podiatrist is a doctor who is trained to prevent, find and treat problems with the feet and ankles. The American Diabetes Association recommends that everyone living with diabetes have a full foot exam at least once a year. This is important because over time, up to half of people living with diabetes develop nerve damage, called neuropathy, in the feet or lower legs. Neuropathy can cause numbness, tingling, burning or pain.

Some people have no symptoms at all, which makes regular foot checks especially important. Loss of feeling can keep you from noticing heat, cold, cuts, blisters or injuries. If these problems are not found and treated early, they can lead to infections, foot ulcers or even amputation. Your doctor may refer you to a podiatrist to help catch foot problems early. You may need more frequent visits if you have nerve damage, poor circulation or other foot-related risks.

During a visit, your podiatrist may:

  • Check blood flow in your feet by feeling pulses
  • Look closely at your feet for cuts, blisters, sores or signs of infection
  • Test how well you feel touch or pressure, which checks for nerve damage

They will also teach you about:

  • Your personal foot-health risks
  • How to check your feet every day
  • How to care for your skin and nails
  • How to choose safe, comfortable shoes

Taking care of your feet is an important part of diabetes care. Regular foot exams and daily foot checks can help prevent serious problems before they start.

Ophthalmologists/optometrists (eye doctors)

Ophthalmologists and optometrists are healthcare professionals who help care for your eyes and vision.

  • An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor with many years of advanced training. They can diagnose and treat all kinds of eye diseases and can also perform surgery.
  • An optometrist provides regular eye exams, checks your vision and treats many common eye problems.

People living with diabetes may develop a condition called diabetic retinopathy. This condition affects the retina; the part of the eye that helps you see. Retinopathy is common in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

If you are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it is recommended that you have a full (dilated) eye exam as soon as possible. After that, you should have an eye exam every year, unless your eye doctor recommends more frequent visits.

Regular eye exams are important because diabetic retinopathy often has no early symptoms. Catching problems early gives you the best chance to prevent serious vision loss. 

Cardiologists (heart doctors)

Cardiologists are doctors who specialize in caring for the heart and blood vessels. They help diagnose and treat conditions like:

People living with diabetes have a higher risk of heart disease, so your primary care doctor may refer you to a cardiologist at some point. Seeing a cardiologist can help check your heart health and prevent serious problems. A cardiologist may recommend tests, such as heart scans, blood tests or stress tests. These tests show how well your heart is working and guide decisions about your care.

Managing diabetes includes caring for your heart. Working with a cardiologist when needed can help you understand your heart health and take steps to protect it over time.

Nephrologists (kidney doctors)

Nephrologists are doctors who specialize in caring for the kidneys. They diagnose and treat kidney problems, including those caused by diabetes and high blood pressure. Your primary care doctor may refer you to a nephrologist if tests show that your kidneys may not be working as well as they should. A nephrologist can run tests, find the cause of the problem and help you protect your kidney health.

Diabetes can slowly damage the kidneys over time, especially if blood sugar is not well-managed. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. Because of this people living with diabetes should have kidney tests every year.

These routine tests can help find kidney problems early, when they are easier to treat:

  • Urine test: Checks for a protein called albumin (a type of protein). Too much albumin in your urine can be an early sign of kidney damage.
  • Blood test: Measures how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your body.

Regular kidney testing is an important part of diabetes care. Finding kidney changes early can help slow damage and protect your long-term health.

Mental health professionals

Taking care of your mental health is an important part of managing diabetes. Mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and counselors can help support your emotional wellbeing. They can help you cope with the day-to-day stress of living with diabetes, as well as feelings like anxiety, sadness or burnout.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, sad, frustrated or just not like yourself, it’s important to tell your doctor. They can help connect you with a mental health professional who can listen, offer support and help you build skills to feel better.

Managing diabetes can be challenging, and asking for mental health support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Caring for your mind helps you care for your body, blood sugar and overall health.

Role of Family and Friends

Along with your healthcare team, family and friends can play an important role in managing diabetes. They can support your emotional well-being; help you stick to your care plan and be there if you need help in an emergency.

Living with diabetes comes with many daily tasks like checking your blood sugar, taking medications, planning meals and keeping appointments. Having a trusted person by your side can make these tasks feel easier and less stressful. You may want to bring a family member or friend to medical visits so they can listen, take notes and help you remember important information.

Your healthcare team must keep your medical information private. However, if you’re comfortable, you can give permission for your care team to talk with specific family members or friends. This can help them better understand your condition and support you in positive, helpful ways. Family and friends can be strong partners in caring for your health. You don’t have to do everything alone.

Additional resources

Last Reviewed: Jul 8, 2026