what kind of doctor writes your diabetes prescriptions?

[tellmeplease]

My kids just 'aged out' of the place they've always gone for their diabetes 'care'.

Do family practitioners/general practitioners do diabetes and write the prescriptions for insulin and testing supplies in the US, or do I need to find some kind of specialist? If so, what's the specialty called?

Thanks

Comments

[bricktor]

I have an endocrinologist and a general practitioner, and both will write me prescriptions for diabetes-related medication/supplies.

[ohhowlovely]

I find that a general practioner doesn't really know as much about Diabetes as much as an Endocrinologist.. this is both good and bad, since I know my body and my Diabetes better than any doctor.. I can get more out of a general practicioner (more insulin per month to last me longer, more test strips, etc) than an Endo will give me.. its bad, but I dont know how long I'm going to have Rx coverage, so I try to stock pile my supplies every month

[tellmeplease]

I didn't think about this- what kind of quantitiy of supplies might it seem reasonable to ask for?

[je5s]

I'm type 1, and I always saw an endocrinologist until I came to grad school. I had such an annoying and not helpful experience with the person I was referred to that I decided for the time being just to get my scrips written by the gp type folks at student health. I don't think this is ideal though, but I don't have the time/energy/insurance coverage to deal with finding a good endo at the moment.

[jovial_planet]

I've been seeing a NP.. or RN?? (either way she's not an MD) who specializes in diabetes care and education. She writes prescriptions and knows her stuff. I've had general practitioners write prescriptions as well but they weren't comfortable with doing it on a long term basis and preferred me to see either an endocrinologist or diabetes educator person. I don't see an endocrinologist at all anymore.

[quinngoldie]

I've been type 1 for 20 years...after my 16th birthday I started going to an adult diabetes endocronologist. My educator is the one who writes my scripts but she's an RN trained specifically in diabetes. Do NOT go to a general practitioner. They do not know anything about diabetes other than the pancreas does not produce insulin