Various health care providers specialize in working with individuals living with type 1 diabetes. If you are having difficulty understanding your or your child’s treatment, finding healthy meal options, coping with stress, or managing diabetes complications and co-existing conditions, a specialist can provide valuable assistance.

A type 1 diabetes support network may include mental health professionals, dietitians, social workers, and nurses who can help with different aspects of diabetes management. In addition to an endocrinologist who oversees your treatment, these providers can form an essential part of your health care team. Here are five reasons to consider reaching out to a specialist.

1. You’re Confused About How Diabetes Works

Even if you have previously received education about type 1 diabetes, you might feel the need for a refresher. Stressful situations, such as hospitalization for unexpected complications, can make it difficult to absorb new information.

Additionally, if you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and the immediate danger has passed, you might need more information on preventing long-term complications and understanding necessary tests beyond A1c or blood glucose levels, such as eye exams or urine tests.

It’s never too late to learn more about diabetes. While your endocrinologist or your child’s pediatrician is a good starting point, other providers might have more time and different teaching methods that could be more effective for you. You can ask your doctor for a referral to a certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES).

The CDCES credential is a special certification for health care professionals who work with people with diabetes. Previously known as certified diabetes educators (CDEs), CDCES professionals earn their certification by logging at least 1,000 hours treating people with diabetes and passing an exam. Licensed professionals eligible for this credential include psychologists, dietitians, physical therapists, optometrists, and podiatrists (foot and ankle specialists).

2. You Don’t Know What Foods To Eat

Managing your diet can be one of the most confusing aspects of living with diabetes. While learning to count carbs on food labels is relatively straightforward, predicting how foods at restaurants, parties, and other less-controlled settings will impact blood sugar levels can be challenging. It can also be difficult to limit foods you once considered healthy, such as fruits.

Spending a few sessions with a registered dietitian nutritionist, particularly one who is also a CDCES, can help build your confidence. In addition to one-on-one counseling, you may have the opportunity to join group cooking classes or grocery store tours designed for diabetes management. Dietitians often use food models and visuals to help you understand what a healthy diabetes meal plan looks like in real life.

3. Your Treatment Plan Doesn’t Seem To Be Working

If you’re struggling to lower high blood sugar levels, it may be time to seek additional help. Diabetes can vary significantly from person to person, and even when following the prescribed plan, things may not always go as expected. Consulting a specialist can help you identify what’s preventing better blood sugar control.

A nurse practitioner or primary care physician with specialized diabetes training can assist you with treatment and monitoring technology, such as glucose monitors and diabetes apps. Managing type 1 diabetes requires daily insulin injections or an insulin pump, as well as knowledge of how to test blood sugar and check for ketones (chemicals produced by the liver).

In addition to limiting carbohydrate intake, staying hydrated, and adjusting treatment based on physical activity levels and sick days are crucial. You might be eating the same food and taking the same insulin doses as last week, but still experience blood sugar spikes due to factors like an undiagnosed urinary infection, insufficient rest, or high stress levels.

There are many factors to consider when managing diabetes. A specialist can help you identify any areas you may have overlooked and provide tips and treatment options to improve your diabetes management plan.

4. You Feel Overwhelmed, Anxious, or Depressed

Not all the effects of diabetes are physical. Diabetes can also impact your mental health and emotional well-being. Whether you’re parenting a child with diabetes or managing the condition yourself, it can be tough to cope with feeling different from others. It’s normal to feel fatigued by the extra effort required to avoid high and low blood sugar levels and deal with diabetes-related issues and emergencies.

People with type 1 diabetes have specific mental health concerns, including a higher risk of eating disorders. A mental health professional who understands the challenges of diabetes can be an essential part of your health care team. They can provide strategies to develop a healthy family dynamic and manage life with diabetes.

5. You Have Complications or Other Medical Issues

People with diabetes are at a higher risk of certain complications, including dental issues, skin changes, and nerve damage. Specialists can help address specific concerns, such as eyesight and foot problems.

Examples of specialists that someone with type 1 diabetes may need to consult include:

• Dentists
• Podiatrists
• Cardiologists (heart specialists)
• Dermatologists (skin specialists)
• Ophthalmologists (eye specialists)
• Nephrologists (kidney specialists)
• Neurologists (nervous system specialists)
• Rheumatologists (joint, muscle, and autoimmune disease specialists)

Members of myT1Dteam have shared their experiences with specialists. “I went to see the retina specialist today. I’ve been getting shots in my eye every month,” one member shared. “He said he’s hoping this is the last month when he checks to see how I’m doing for next month.”

It’s important to be mindful of the higher lifetime risk of heart and kidney disease associated with diabetes. Monitoring for hypertension (high blood pressure) and impaired kidney function is crucial. Having a higher body weight can also be a contributing factor. An internal medicine doctor or obesity specialist can help incorporate weight loss goals and lifestyle changes into your current diabetes treatment plan.

Diabetes increases cardiovascular risk, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol targets are lower for people with diabetes than for those without it. (LDL cholesterol is sometimes referred to as “bad cholesterol.”) Your doctor will most likely prescribe statins or other drugs to lower cholesterol.

In addition, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. Studies show that people with one autoimmune disease are at a higher risk of developing another. Seeing specialists as needed to monitor factors like thyroid function is essential to catching potential issues early.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myT1Dteam, the social network for people living with type 1 diabetes and their loved ones, more than 3,400 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with those who understand life with type 1 diabetes.

Do you see any specialists beyond your primary care doctor to manage specific symptoms of diabetes? Who’s on your diabetes care team? Share your experience below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.