Elderly Patients: The Advantages of Managing Your Diabetes with an Internist

If you have diabetes, you’ll know only too well how complicated it can be to successfully manage the condition at times. It’s only through the correct blend of good diet and medication that you can control blood glucose levels and prevent any complications, such as hyperglycemia.

However, recent evidence suggests that managing glucose levels is even more complex with elderly patients. In some instances, lowering blood glucose levels to supposed ‘optimum’ levels can actually cause hyperglycemia. In certain cases, this has even hospitalized the patient concerned.

The Individualized Care of an Internist

It’s in situations such as these that an internist can help. Whilst a regular GP is fully capable and qualified to manage the condition, they’re unlikely to specialize specifically in diabetes. However, many internists do specialize in the condition, and as a result, have a far deeper understanding of it.

They’ll also take into account any other existing medical conditions that you may have, and assess how these conditions are impacting on your diabetes. By looking at the ‘bigger picture’, rather than focusing on the one health condition in isolation, they’ll create a personalized care-plan, designed to optimize your health and wellbeing in all areas.

In addition to this, they’ll take into account your age, lifestyle and current levels of general health, in order to formulate an individualized care plan to best manage your diabetes.

Official Recommendations

Indeed, in a recent edition of ACP Internist, a report outlined the importance of individualized care for the elderly. It also highlighted the importance of taking into account personal patient preference, current living arrangements and how long the individual has suffered with the condition.

Arrange to Speak to an Internist Today

If you have diabetes or any other form of chronic disease, and want to find out more about how an internist can help you, simply get in contact with  Dr Kavita Rao at 727-525-0900.