Beth Polo Beckel RD, LD, CDE, Nutritionist – Questions Answered by her

Diabetes is a chronic disease and condition of the body. Being chronic, it needs constant care, treatment and attention. When such care, treatment and attention are not available, diabetes leads to complications, many of which can be quite serious. All in all, coping with diabetes or caring for a diabetes patient is a full-time job that needs awareness, resources, education and most importantly – a diabetes clinician.

A diabetes clinician is a certified diabetes healthcare professional, specialized in the diagnosis, treatment & care of patient with diabetes or pre-diabetes patients. He or She has extensive diabetes education and is able to guide the patient and the family in coping with diabetes and helping those lead productive lives. Diabetes clinicians become all the more important in sensitive cases: for instance pregnancy with diabetes, children with diabetes or diabetes in the elderly. In cases where diabetes runs in the family, a diabetes clinician can ensure your children are protected or diagnosed as soon as symptoms set in.

For families coping with diabetes, a dedicated personal clinician can prove to be a blessing. A clinician will help them:

• Find doctors, hospitals, diabetes centers and support groups in the area
• Answer questions and resolve doubts with correct information
• Provide access to diabetes education material, and diabetes programs and websites
• Help make lifestyle changes
• Help find products and services you can use
• Provide care and treatment for ancillary health problems or conditions that come with diabetes

Being part of a program that introduces you to diabetes professional is one of the best ways to help you and your family deal with this disease. Diabetes is not to be taken lightly, and neither should it be allowed to take all the fun out of your life. A clinician will help you find the right balance.