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On this page:
- Your doctor. He or she may be your doctor at the clinic where you go for health care, your family doctor, or someone who has special training in caring
for people with diabetes. A doctor with that kind of special training is called an endocrinologist or diabetologist.
You'll talk with your doctor about what kind of medicine you need and how much you should take. You'll also agree on a target blood glucose range and blood pressure and cholesterol targets. Your doctor will do tests to be sure that your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol are staying on track and that you're staying healthy. Ask your doctor if you should take aspirin every day to help prevent heart disease.
- Your diabetes educator. A diabetes educator may be a nurse, a dietitian, or another kind of health care worker. Diabetes educators teach you about meal planning, diabetes medicines, exercise, how to check your blood glucose, and how to fit diabetes care into your everyday life.
Don't be shy about asking your doctor or diabetes educator about the information in this guide. Ask questions if you don't understand something. After all, it's your health!
- Your family and friends. Keeping your blood glucose at your target level is a daily job. You may need help or support from your family or friends. You may want to bring a family member or close friend with you when you visit your doctor or diabetes educator. Taking good care of your diabetes can sometimes be a family affair!
- A counselor or mental health worker. You might feel sad about having diabetes or get tired of taking care of yourself. Or you might be having problems because of work, school, or family. If diabetes makes you feel sad or angry or if you have other problems that make you feel bad, you can talk to a counselor or mental health worker. Your doctor or diabetes educator can help you find a counselor if you need one.
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- How to find a diabetes educator
To find a diabetes educator near you, call the American Association of
Diabetes Educators toll-free at 1-800-832-6874, or look on the Internet
at www.diabeteseducator.org
and click on "Find a Diabetes Educator."
- How to find a dietitian
To find a dietitian near you, call the American Dietetic Association toll-free
at 1-800-366-1655, or look on the Internet at www.eatright.org
and click on "Find a Dietitian."
- How to find programs about diabetes
To find programs about diabetes or for additional information, contact
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: 1-800-342-2383
Internet: www.diabetes.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
120 Wall Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Phone: 1-800-533-2873
Internet: www.jdrf.org
Both these organizations have magazines and other information for people
with diabetes.
They also have local groups in many places where you can meet other
people who have diabetes.
- How to get more information about diabetes
To get more information about taking care of diabetes, contact
National Diabetes Education Program
1 Diabetes Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3600
Phone: 1-800-438-5383
Fax: (301) 907-8906
Internet: http://ndep.nih.gov
NIH Publication No. 03-4016
April 2003
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