I was just wondering; how often do you guys visit your endocrinologist ?!
I've just started with a new one, so I'd love to know how often is good enough :D
Four times a year for the endo.
We're all different, Shahenda. Me, I don't use doctors much to manage my D. I don't have (or want) an endo, and I visit my PCP whenever I need med refills or if something comes up. I have a cardiologist also who I visit yearly or more if needed and an ophthalmologist yearly...or I try anyway!
My insurance co. requires a visit every 3 months if using a insulin pump...seems excessive for someone with A1c's typically <6.0
That's the Medicare rule for pumpers, I don't know if it has to be an endo or if a PCP will do. I have a Medicare Advantage plan with Kaiser & they insist on following the rules, though I usually stretch it out to nearer 4 months.
Hmmm. I'm starting Medicare in November, but mine is a little different as it's an integrated plan with CalPers, my current provider.(who makes no requirements at all of minimum visits). I don't know if I will be subject to those rules, but I will hate it if so! I am very used to managing my own D and if I went to an endo (which is an hour over the mountain) or doctor because I was required to by medicare, that would be against my entire principal of health care which is that it is meant to suit my needs, not that of the doctor or insurance company.
I see my endo every 6 months.
I go every three-4 months with full blood panels and ac1 done each time. I can call their team any time I need help on a 24hr response.
Every 4 months. He checks my A1C each time.
non-medicare plan, so I go once maybe twice a year.
On Medicare. It is a Medicare requirement, regardless of the insurance company, that pumpers must go every three months. My endo has me alternate between him and the NP so that I see him twice a year. But I go to that office q 3 months so I meet the Medicare requirement.
Zoe, if you are lucky, you will get, or already have, an endo who works with you and will be happy that you can manage your diabetes without too much input on his/her part. My endo would prefer that I only had to come twice a year but Medicare is clamping down on their rules so no chance of changing that.
If no problems, then..typically what my health care team suggests is:
Endo: every 3 months, check A1C and full foot exam
Eye Doctor: once a year
PCP: full blood work panel - think they check my thyroid too, kidneys, etc..every 6 months, fasting lipids annually
Dentist: every 6 months
Nell, I will have CalPers Medicare which is a little different than having a Medicare supplement, because it is an integrated system. CalPers isn't an insurance company, it's the California State Retirement System. (Anthem Blue Cross is the insurance company they use). So far I don't see anything in the literature about required visits, but I'm only at the beginning of the process of learning how it works (my birthday is November). Perhaps it's wishful thinking and I will have to meet those requirements but I would like to think otherwise for awhile longer..lol.
I appreciate your thoughts, Nell, but I really have no interest in having an endo; I like my current doctor because he leaves me alone and just writes my scripts. I knew I had diabetes when I was first diagnosed and just needed a test to confirm. I was misdiagnosed though as type 2 and figured out I was type 1 on my own(with help from TuD!) as I lived in Guatemala at the time. I just got in the habit from then forward of learning to control my own D and so I'm used to that. There is, I believe only one endo in the larger town over the mountain from me, so I wouldn't be able to shop for a more "team oriented" one. If I have to drive over the mountain every 3 months for no reason other than to meet Medicare requirements that will be totally contradictory to my philosophy of health care. (We are consumers of services and hire the professionals to meet our needs, not theirs). But if I end up having to do it, the good part will be at least that it won't cost me anything. (Other than gas!)
Endo - once in 32 years.
PCP - every 3 months.
As little as possible. Get my scrips from my PCP and only visit the endo when I need to update pump or CGM scrips. Once, maybe..twice a year.
Love it, Jim. My PCP does all my scrips, and A1C, etc. As I commented below, only when I need to update scrips for pump and CGM, otherwise I would not go.
However, and please note, I went to an endo when my D world was crashing 15 years ago. He was amazing and really changed my life.
So, even though I think most of them are not helpful, I had one fantastic endo who--saved my life.
Roughly about 4 times a year (coinciding with my quarterly A1C and blood works scheds.) or depending if there are other health concerns...
Every 3 months, I love getting patted on the head but it's sort of a waste of time. I mess around with stuff so much and am always changing my diet around, working out differently, coming up with new tactics to attack it with, that she'd have to move in with us and follow me around while I dictated what I was doing for it to make any sense.
I'm sorry but I'm not sure what PCP stands for ??
I used to go every 3 months, now my endo wants to see me every 6 months. Lately we tell jokes and curse about DP. Then I get RX's. In my opinion she can only provide her opinion from treating many different diabetics. I seem to do every treatment option she would do at this point with the exception that I aim for 80s and 90s and she would prefer 100 and 110s.