How I Assembled My Type 2 Diabetes Care Team

Nikki Nurse is a caregiver for her mother who is also living with Type 2 diabetes. She relies on multiple providers to take care of her physical and mental health.

Nikki’s diabetes care team consists of:

• A primary care doctor

• An endocrinologist

• A therapist

• A podiatrist

• Personal trainer

• Nutritionist

• Ophthalmologist

• Diabetes educator

Nikki was able to assemble her care team through her primary care doctor, who operates on a membership program. By paying a monthly fee, Nikki has 24/7 access to members of her team.

Here is Nikki’s advice for assembling a care team for Type 2 diabetes:

1. Research assistance programs that can help you find multiple providers in one place

2. Prioritize feeling seen as a person beyond your condition

3. Seek mental health counseling

4. Think of food and movement as medicine

5. Be honest with your doctor so they can find the right treatment for you

6. Tell your doctor what’s most important to you about your journey

7. Look into telehealth

8. Organize your medical records to have them ready to share with your care team

9. Take care of your feet

10. Understand the mind-body connection

11. Trust your gut and seek a second opinion if needed

You can read more about Nikki’s experience with Type 2 diabetes here and how she manages her A1C here.

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Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to practicing medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

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