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Alert: Product and Recall Notices10 Tips For Finding Your Ideal Endocrinologist
Whether you’re recently diagnosed with diabetes, recently moved, or are ready for a change, selecting an endocrinologist is important to your diabetes management. The relationship you have with him or her can make a big difference in not just your quarterly visits, but also your day-to-day diabetes management and long term health. So how do you find an endocrinologist? And not just any one, but one who “gets” you and who can help you achieve your goals and live well with diabetes?
1. Ask for Recommendations
Ask family, friends, the community, or one of your other physicians for a recommendation. When you do this, be sure to ask why they like this particular endocrinologist and why they think you would be a good fit. You can also reach out to your local JDRF or ADA chapter to see if they offer a list of highly recommended endocrinologists in your area.
2. Visit AACE Website
Visit the AACE Find an Endocrinologist on the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists website. You can search for an endocrinologist in your area by location, area of interest, or both.
3. Determine Which Doctors are “In-Network”
Most health insurance plans have negotiated contracts with certain doctors and hospitals in your area, so you’ll pay less out of pocket costs. You can find a list of your “in-network” doctors by calling the customer service number on the back of your insurance card.
4. Do Online Research
Once you have some names, do some online research to learn more about their expertise, affiliations, and practice. While online patient reviews can be helpful, keep in mind everyone has different needs and personalities, so an endocrinologist that’s a good fit for one patient, may not be a good fit for another. (This is why #6 and #7 are so important.)
5. Check Their Credentials
Check where they went to medical school and completed their fellowship program, if they’re board certified, and their specialization. Make sure the endocrinologist has a particular interest in diabetes.
6. Visit the Doctor
How friendly, helpful, and informative was the endocrinologist and his staff? You should feel comfortable in their office, and feel like they are someone you can trust. The ability for the two of you to communicate well is also important for establishing a productive, long-term relationship.
7. Ask Questions and Observe
Write down questions ahead of time to ask prospective physicians to make sure it’s the right fit. For example, what is their philosophy on weight management, glucose control and diabetes technology? If you use or are interested in using an insulin pump and CGM, are they familiar with these tools? What about diabetes management apps? Also feel free to ask about appointment occurrence/scheduling, refill policy, and doctor/patient communication in between office visits. Observe the office staff behavior, i.e. answering phones, wait times, and manners.
8. Bring Your Information
Prepare for your appointments so your doctor can better help you meet your goals. Bring your recent log books or CareLink reports, diet and activity history, pertinent medical information, any information on a new type of therapy you’re interested in learning more about, and questions.
9. Think About Logistics
Do you want a physician that’s close to home or your office? What are their office hours and will you need to take time off work for a doctor’s appointment. If so, think about all of these things and weigh how important they are to you in relation to other factors (like some of the things in #7).
10. Don’t Be Afraid to Switch
Remember this is your diabetes and no one else’s. If for any reason – and at any time – you’re not comfortable with the endocrinologist, practice, staff, or the way they manage your health, you have every right to switch.
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About Author
Naomi Kingery
Customer Experience DesignerNaomi Kingery Ruperto, also known as The Diabetic Diva®, was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 12. Through the years she has used her voice in the diabetes community as a blogger and the author of the Sugar Free Series, which includes Sugar Free Me, Sugar Free Teens, Sugar Free Support, and Sugar Free Journey. Her personal connection with Medtronic began in 2002 when she received her first MiniMed® insulin pump. And in 2009 she chose to build a career at Medtronic because of her passion towards the Medtronic Mission. Naomi works on the Customer Experience team representing the voice of the diabetes community every day. Outside of work, she loves her family, her church, her bulldog, and the color pink!
I live in the Dallas, TX area and am looking for a new Endocrinologist. I have had hypothyroidism since I was 14 yr old. Along with that I also found out about 5 yr ago that I have a benign macro-tumor on my pituitary glad. I have had a major problem finding an Endo that will actually sit down and listen to me as to what my issues/concerns are. Can you help me find an Endo that is in the area?
I need to find a new endocrinologist and the link for AACE no longer works for that purpose, can you help me? I live in Washington state
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Patricia. Please email us at dhelp@medtronic.com with your phone number and zip code and we’ll see how we can help.
I loved the tip that you gave to learn about a doctor’s affiliations before you choose to hire them. I think this would be a great way to determine if they will be a good fit for you. My wife and I have been talking about finding a doctor to help our son better manage his diabetes. It would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. When we look for one, I will be sure to check their affiliations beforehand.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a doctor who has positive online reviews. My wife and I have been talking about finding a doctor to help us if we decide to get help with our son because of his sleep issues, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could be confident will be good for him. If we choose to find a doctor, I will be sure to look for one who has positive online reviews.
Glad you found the tips helpful, Jeff. Good luck to you and your family.
I like the tip that you gave to check the credentials of a doctor before you decide to hire them. My wife and I have been talking about finding an endocrinologist to help our son with his type 1 diabetes, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. If we decide to find one, I will be sure to check their credentials beforehand.
I found my endocrinologist three months ago after talking to friends and family. She entered the room for our “getting to know you” session with a laptop and with a pencil and paper that had notes on it. It was obvious she had read my chart beforehand. As we talked, she jotted down a few more notes. Asked many more questions to further her knowledge of my case. She brought up CGM and MEDTRONIC devices are her number one go to, asked if I might be interested as everything is recorded to cloud and she can monitor my progress and make changes if necessary. I have met with the local sales manager, (she is certified in the MEDTRONIC training and is a registered dietitian), for our region on two occasions now, have gained a wealth of knowledge from this lady.
I found my favorite endocrinologist three months ago after moving too far from my previous one. He entered the room for our “getting to know you” session without a laptop and with a pencil and paper that had notes on it. It was obvious he had read my information beforehand. As we talked, he jotted down a few more notes. No eyes glued to a computer screen, Then he surprised me on Christmas Eve day by calling with my latest lab results!
That’s so great to hear, Pauline. Finding a doctor that you connect with and trust is so important!
Thank you for your post, it really covers all the bases of finding a good endocrinologist! I like that you mention that it is ok to switch and to really look for an endocrinologist that works with your personality, your goals, and your diabetes. My boyfriend has type 1 diabetes and we just moved to a new area so we’ll be doing a lot of research. I’ll keep these suggestions in mind and make sure we find the right fit!
Eliza, I’m happy to hear you found this article helpful! It sounds like your boyfriend has a great support team with you by his side. 🙂
Response for Chris Sims: The transplant route is very, very hard, with no guarantee of success. After rejection many unexpected and previously unmentioned problems can occur. My own experience is that making the decision to have a transplant was the worst one of my life as the consequences 10 years on are difficult to deal with. I have since had thyroid issues and eye problems as well as of course being diabetic again. Eight months of not being diabetic immediately after transplant were counterbalanced by still being in recovery from the surgery, wonderful though it was to be “normal” for those few months! Unless you need a kidney transplant, my advice would be to steer clear and get an insulin pump and learn as much about its operation as you can, as they can be invaluable and make good balance easier to achieve.
what’s the difference between an endochronolgist and a nephrologist?
That’s a great question, Melody. According to the Mayo Clinic, a nephrologist a physician who specializes in kidney care and treating diseases of the kidneys, and according to the American Association of Diabetes Educators, an endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the endocrine system, including diabetes.
I don’t have an endo at this time. I don’t like the constant monitoring….I figure if I get out of control, then I will go to an endo. I have always been around 7.0 with my A1C, which my primary care doctor checks every 3 months….so I figure I am doing OK…..I like the idea of one less doctor appointment…..the pump has been a great help…..I don’t have a CGM…..because of one more thing to attach.
Any comments regarding a transplant?….that sounds to me like more of a hassle than just day to day monitoring.
Chris, thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I’m happy you’ve found what works best for you, and are doing well managing your diabetes with your current physician and on insulin pump therapy. I recommend talking with your healthcare team about a pancreas transplant, as they can give you the best advice to meet your individual needs.
Does Medtronics have a site that lists Doctors they have trained for their insulin pumps and CGMS devices?
That’s a great question, Steve. Unfortunately, we do not have a site with that sort of information. Please let me know if you’d like me to connect you with someone from my team who can try to help you out.
When I had to move to another state (twice), I called my insulin pump company (Medtronic) for referrals. Both times, I was thrilled with the doctors they suggested. It’s so important to find a doctor that you feel comfortable with. Both of these treated me as the team leader, and helped me gain even better control. Management is a little easier, when you don’t dread your appointments!
I agree Dana – it’s so important to find a doctor you’re comfortable with! I’m glad our team was able to help point you in the right direction finding a new healthcare team. Keep up the good diabetes management! You’re doing great!
Naomi,
Thought you might have an idea. I read your article great! I really have worried that I had to stick with my endo. Our relationship just doesn’t serve me well. I had one hood endo who had the philosophy that I was in charge so to speak and she would give me the tools to reach my goal. How can you find out doctors philosophies without having a thousand appointments to look. I’m really at a loss no friends with diabetes. I’m insulin dependent using pump and care and I need someone that’s going to help me make necessary adjustments you can’t carry your doctor in your back pocket. I need a doctor that understands diabetes isn’t like other diseases where you have a checkup and adjust meds done! No everyday is different in our world. A lot of variables come in to play.
Great questions, Allyson. We encourage our customers to check with loved ones and other healthcare professionals for recommendations. The internet has many sites that allow for patient reviews of physicians and clinics which can help narrow down your search. We wish you the best of luck in your search.
, I read few articles on this site and I think that your web blog is real interesting and Power to the People of excellent information.
Keep up the excellent work
Thank you for the kind words and feedback! I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying The LOOP Blog. We understand all people living with diabetes have their own unique experiences and continue to try to meet the needs of our community in a variety of ways.
When I moved to my current hometown, I found my endocrinologist from speaking to the Medtronic rep in the area. I figured the rep (who deals with pretty much everyone in the area) would know which doctors are most familiar and comfortable with the Medtronic pump and its technology, and I was right. My new endo knows so much more about what the pump does and how to retrieve data from it than my old one did (no more reciting rates and ratios and handing over BG logbooks at each appointment – he downloaded it all from my ‘little black box’ in seconds!), and I’m so glad I sought out my rep’s referral. I’d highly reccommend this route for anyone who is highly involved in any sort of diabetes technology.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Scott! I’m happy you found an endocrinologist that’s a good fit for you.
Tried that but my rep did not
reply and does not not like to help. Everything
seems to go to the head rep who isn’t helpful
Ever!
I am sorry to hear you’re not finding your rep very helpful. I will have someone from my team connect with you to try and help you out.
Hello.. My glucose numbers have been in the 200’s..This was after a few times of fasting well over 12hrs…I was told the numbers were fine and no need to increase my insilin… Very confused due to being taught the numbers should be 80-150.. Don’t know what to do
Thanks for reaching out, Phyllis. Are you currently using an insulin pump to manage your diabetes?