Who is Endocrinologist? | The Best Doctor to Treat Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is a health condition that weakens the body’s ability to process blood sugar. Without careful management, diabetes can lead to a buildup of glucose in the blood by excessive unhealthy and junk foods take, which can raise the risk of many health complications, such as stroke and diseases of the heart. An efficient healthcare system is a key to staying well when you are dealing with diabetes, and the best doctor for diabetes can help you with the management of this health condition, also concerning for reduce extra weight by best weigh loss surgery.
Diabetes is rising in epic proportions. According to IDF (Diabetes Atlas Tenth edition 2021), approximately 537 million individuals (20-79 years) are living with diabetes. With this rate, people with diabetes will increase to 643 million by 2030 and around 783 million by 2045.
Before discussing the best doctor for diabetes, let’s figure out this health condition.
What is diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes Mellitus is commonly referred to as a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The function of the hormone insulin is to move glucose from the blood into the cell. The cells then store or use this glucose as energy. Glucose is also the brain’s primary source of fuel.
In diabetes, the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or cannot use it. High blood sugar levels from diabetes damage the nerves, kidneys, eyes, and other organs. Knowledge about diabetes and measures to prevent or manage it can help patients protect their health.
Types of Diabetes
There are three types of diabetes.
1. Type 1 diabetes
This type of diabetes can grow at any age, but it occurs mainly in children and adolescents. In type 1 diabetes, the patient’s body produces little insulin, and patients need daily insulin injections to maintain normal glucose levels.
2. Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is common in adults. In this type 2 diabetes, the body does not use the insulin it produces. The best diabetes treatment is a healthy lifestyle, which includes physical activity and a healthy diet. However, some individuals with type 2 diabetes require oral medication and insulin to control glucose levels.
3. Gestational diabetes (GDM)
Gestational diabetes consists of high blood glucose during pregnancy and causes complications for both mother and child. It usually disappears after pregnancy, but mothers and children are a high chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
Cause of diabetes
The cause of diabetes varies in each type. However, regardless of the type of diabetes, it leads to excess sugar in the bloodstream because the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin. And this extra sugar in the bloodstream leads to serious health issues.
The best doctor for diabetes
An efficient healthcare system is key to staying well. So, if you are diagnosed with diabetes and are on insulin, you need a specialist. The best doctor for diabetes and specialist is an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist specializes in disorders of the endocrine system, which produces hormones that regulate the metabolic system, homeostasis and reproductive system.
Endocrinologist: a diabetes specialist
An endocrinologist treats diabetes, pancreatic diseases, and other diseases that affect the other endocrine systems like the thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands. Some of these diseases are:
- Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
- Pituitary tumours and other pituitary diseases
- Abnormalities of sex hormones
- Disorders of the reproductive system
Osteoporosis - Abnormalities in lipid metabolism
- Excessive weight gain from unhealthy foods
The gland involved in diabetes is the pancreas, which produces insulin. Therefore, a specialist should manage the problems with insulin that result in diabetes. Highly trained and expert endocrinologists often work with nurses, exercise physiologists, educators, pharmacists and dietitians. Working together, these experts address every aspect and complicated problem to manage.
When to seek help from an endocrinologist for diabetes mellitus
When you are diagnosed with diabetes by your doctor, sometimes it’s best to see an endocrinologist to help manage diabetes, depending upon the diabetes type and individual situation.
In some cases of uncomplicated type 2 diabetes, you can manage the disease through a healthy lifestyle under the guidance of the healthcare provider. However, if diabetes is complicated, like type 1 diabetes, your doctor will refer you to an endocrinologist or the best weight loss surgeon to treat your diabetes mellitus.
Other than the recommendation from the primary healthcare provider, there are many reasons to see an endocrinologist.
1. Lack of communication
If you think the physician cannot provide you with the same treatment, you need to consult a specialist. The best doctor for diabetes can focus on the care for specific treatment for diabetes.
2. Diabetes education
Though primary physicians are knowledgeable, they cannot provide specific education regarding diabetes from an expert only. Here, an endocrinologist can help with detailed information relating to diabetes and lead you towards the treatment you need.
3. Diabetes complications
In case you are experiencing complications of diabetes, the best doctor for diabetes can help manage the symptoms and prevent the damage. The complications of diabetes include sores on the feet, eye problems, kidneys and nerve issues.
4. When treatment for diabetes doesn’t work
If the conventional treatments for diabetes are not working for you despite the physician’s best efforts, it is high time to consult a specialist.
5. Need complex treatments
An expert endocrinologist can make sure you receive the best treatment and manage diabetes in the best possible way if you are taking insulin injections and exceed the dosage of more than three injections.
In treating and managing diabetes, it is crucial to how you take your medications, your food choices, and your physical activities.
Pediatric diabetes specialist
A pediatric endocrinologist can help parents manage their child’s diabetes in the best possible way. A pediatric diabetes specialist in Lahore is a person that treats children and adolescents because they are used to communicating with kids and their patients and understanding how health issues like diabetes can affect children at different stages of development.
The process of treatment
Endocrinologists ensure that the patients understand the disease process and help them manage the disorder. After discussing the treatment options with the patient, the endocrinologist proceeds with the best course of treatment to manage the diabetes disease.
Initial examination of the patient
In the patient’s first examination, an endocrinologist reviews the lab results and discusses the diagnosis. After that, they prescribe medication and educate the patient on how to administer the medicines properly.
Lifestyle modifications are crucial in the case of diabetes. These modifications include nutrition plans and exercise plans that can help in the management of the disease. Endocrinologists also discuss any complications resulting from diabetes and ensure that the patients understand what to expect with this disease and when to seek additional help from other specialists. In the course of managing diabetes, professional healthcare providers also discuss how to take precautions for the mental health of the patient.
Follow up visits
In the follow-up visits, the endocrinologist reviews the current treatment plan and asks if you are experiencing any issues or new symptoms. Then, they come up with new treatment plans in case of any problem or ask you to continue with the previous one if you manage diabetes well.
Managing diabetes
For the long-term management of diabetes, you should create a self-care plan under the healthcare provider’s supervision. Because by changing the lifestyle and taking care of yourself, one can live a healthy life with diabetes.
A management plan to cure diabetes includes:
- Regular visits to the doctor
- Checking blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- A healthy nutritional plan
- Regular exercise
In short, living with diabetes is not always easy. However, understanding your body, the disease and how well you help your health is the best way to manage diabetes. To manage diabetes and lead a healthy life, patients must take charge of their health.
Primary health care providers and top endocrinologists in Lahore provide all the knowledge a patient needs. However, the will of the patients and their healthy lifestyle are the keys to everyday life.
ALSA Pakistan has the top endocrinologist in Lahore and highly qualified staff. We offer the best treatment, management and education about diabetes. We also check the risk associated with diabetes and other endocrine disorders. Furthermore, ALSA, the best diabetic doctor in Lahore, offers nutritional plans and psychiatric help to individuals with diabetes.
