Choosing the Right Doctor for Diabetes Management: 5 Steps to Follow
Takeaways
Good diabetes management requires personalized, holistic care. This, in turn, calls for a healthcare provider with more extensive training and experience under their belt.
Before switching healthcare providers, be honest with yourself: is it necessary? Good reasons to look for a new doctor include poor sugar level control, unresolved side effects, and difficulty connecting with your current provider.
The following 5 steps could help you pick a (new) doctor who’s right for you: 1) look at the doctor’s profile, 2) look at the doctor’s or clinic’s blog, 3) Google the doctor’s name, 4) look at the doctor’s team, and 5) give the doctor or clinic a call.
Convenience may also be a huge deciding factor when picking a doctor. So, ask yourself: do they offer medication delivery? Teleconsultation? Or, what about online appointment booking?
Diabetes is a complex condition that is heavily affected by lifestyle habits. The food that you eat, your work habits, how much exercise you do, and many other factors play a part in your blood sugar control. Therefore, there is no one size fit all treatment for diabetes.
Good diabetes management should be personalized and holistic and include dietary and fitness advice on top of the usual medical therapy and regular checkups. Such holistic treatment requires the healthcare provider to have more extensive training and experience, and also takes up more time and effort from them. This is why it can take years before you find a doctor or clinic that can provide you with the kind of holistic and personalized care that you want.
Based on our experience with our patients, we have come up with this article to help you figure out 2 things:
Is it time to look for a new doctor?
For most of us, it is difficult to decide whether we need to see another doctor. Here are some common reasons why our patients have decided to look for alternative care providers.
Your blood sugar levels have not been improving or have been getting worse.
You have been experiencing side effects like unexplained weight loss or weight gain, diarrhea or stomach upset related to diabetes treatment, but have not been able to resolve the issue.
You are trying to reduce the amount of medication you are on, and need support with your diet and fitness to achieve that goal.
You are looking for a second opinion on your treatment plan.
You have difficulty connecting with your current healthcare provider.
5 steps to find out if a doctor can help you control your blood sugar
Look up the doctor’s profile on the clinic’s website.
The doctor does not have to be a specialist doctor, but his profile should indicate that he has some experience or special interest in diabetes management. Look for any interviews featuring him and check if what he says resonates with you. Pay attention to his care philosophy, or how he manages his patients, making sure his care philosophy and management is aligned with what you seek.
Look for educational resources on the clinic’s website.
Some clinics invest time to develop patient education materials and resources. This usually means that the team prioritizes educating and empowering their patients. If that is important to you, or if you are looking to receive holistic care, this can be a telltale sign that the clinic is a good fit for you.
Put in the doctor’s name in Google.
Quickly searching your doctor’s name on Google can turn out results of interest. Look for any interviews or news article featuring the doctor, or articles that the doctor has written. This gives you a clue on the doctor’s areas of interest and expertise. Pay special attention to talks on diabetes management and related areas like diet and fitness - it could indicate that the doctor is experienced in these fields, and gives you an idea of what management by the doctor might look like.
Look at the doctor’s team.
Doctors' practices aren't composed of doctors alone. They are surrounded by others who help them deliver the care you need. From receptionists to nurses and allied health professionals such as dietitians and health coaches, your experience will actually be a cumulative experience with the entire team. Such multidisciplinary support can help doctors better manage the patient’s condition in the different areas of care and can support patients in navigating the growing number of options in nutrition, technology, services, and medication. Make sure the doctor you choose has the appropriate support, and that you are comfortable with the other members of the team as they will play a significant role in your care.
Give them a call.
Call up the clinic, or write the clinic an email to inquire how the practice takes care of persons with diabetes. Pay attention to how the front desk responds to your queries and how helpful they are. Also take the chance to check if they are covered under your insurer and whether you can use your Medisave to cover treatment costs. You can also ask about their prices (if it’s not already on their website).
Bonus factors!
Here are some additional factors that you might want to take into consideration when choosing your doctor:
Medication delivery
Healthcare providers that offer medication delivery can be a lifesaver if you have run out of medication but don’t have time to head down to the clinic to refill your meds.
Teleconsultation option
Most of our patients who have tried a teleconsult (consultation over a video call) would say that it is a fantastic option for routine follow ups. You save time without having to commute, avoid crowds, and can get the care you need from the comfort of your home or even at the office. Your family members can also join in the consultation from wherever they are.
Online appointment booking
Another time saver for you. Online appointment booking systems allow you to see all available appointment slots, and allow you to choose the slot that suits you best immediately. No more playing email or WhatsApp ping-pong just to get an appointment. An urgent matter has cropped up? No worries, you can also change your appointment easily online.
How we treat diabetes
At NOVI health, we believe in treating diabetes holistically. To help you evaluate if we are the right fit for you, you can check out the links below:
If you want to contact us, feel free to give us a call at +65 8600 3628 or simply drop us a message via the WhatsApp button on our website!