Diabetology

A diabetologist is an endocrinologist who specialises in the treatment of diabetes.

The main role of a diabetologist is to diagnose the exact cause and type of diabetes and design a management plan to enable patients to control their diabetes and maintain a good quality of life.

A diabetologist will use blood tests to detect and regularly monitor changes in a patient’s blood glucose levels.

An important part of a diabetologist’s role is to show patients how to optimally manage diabetes. This may include lifestyle changes such as physical activity and a well-balanced diet, education on possible secondary diseases, drug therapy, and insulin therapy.

They may use insulin therapy for patients with gestational diabetes and type 1 and type 2 diabetes to keep their blood sugar within a target range and help prevent diabetes complications.

Patients should see a diabetologist if they experience typical symptoms of diabetes. These can include feeling very thirsty and/or hungry, extreme fatigue, urinating often, weight loss, blurry vision, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal and tingling, pain, or numbness in your hands/feet.

You may be referred to a diabetologist if blood tests suggest your blood sugar levels are too high, after an eye examination that detected the risk of diabetes, or if you are suspected to have gestational diabetes.

Early detection and treatment of diabetes can decrease the risk of developing complications of diabetes.

Diabetologists mostly deal with outpatients. As diabetes is a disease that requires constant effort to keep it under control, follow-ups are very common. At a follow-up appointment, a diabetologist will judge the effectiveness of a patient’s medicine and if it is not working correctly. They may change the patient’s management plan accordingly.

The cost of a diabetology appointment will depend on whether it is an initial assessment or a follow-up consultation and your Ramsay hospital of choice. The cost of a diabetology treatment will be based on whether it is insulin or another type of medication prescribed to control your diabetes.

In England, people aged 18 to 60 with diabetes who have a current and valid medical exemption certificate can benefit from a free prescription for their diabetes insulin and medication. If you see a private specialist diabetologist, they may request your GP to issue an NHS prescription for your medication so that you do not have to pay for it privately.

You will receive a formal quotation price after your consultation with one of our expert diabetologists. This formal quote for your diabetes management will be valid for 60 days.

Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. Diabetes tests and treatment may be covered by your medical insurance policies. We advise that you check with and obtain written confirmation from your insurance provider prior to your diabetology appointment.

We have a number of finance options if you are paying for your diabetology yourself. These include:

•            Interest-free finance – 0% interest, no deposit, and affordable monthly instalments.

•            All-inclusive Total Care – a one-off pre-agreed payment for access to all the treatment you need for complete reassurance.

•            Pay as you go – flexible funding to pay for treatment as and when costs arise.

If you require blood tests, insulin, or diabetes medications for diabetes you shouldn’t need any recovery time. The management of diabetes is ongoing to ensure your blood glucose levels are maintained within your target range.

Ramsay is pleased to offer expert diabetology services at many of its hospitals.

Patients can benefit from rapid access to convenient appointments and highly skilled specialists who can investigate their symptoms and support their diabetes management. They work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and referral to other departments such as physiotherapy is seamless.