Diabète

• Can I talk to a doctor on Gotodoctor.ca about Diabetes ?

Yes, Gotodoctor.ca provides virtual care services for Diabetes. A doctor will take a comprehensive in-depth history in the clinic and may provide you with prescriptions. Depending on the type of diabetes and the severity of symptoms further recommendations will be provided. If the patient’s blood glucose levels are dangerously high, doctor will direct him/her to clinic treatment.

• What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that results in elevated blood glucose levels. Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood glucose levels, and in diabetes either insulin production or sensitivity to insulin is reduced. There are two types of diabetes, namely type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes there is no insulin production at all. By far type 2 diabetes is more prevalent^[1-4].Doctors diagnose diabetes by its characteristic signs and symptoms.

• What are the symptoms of diabetes ?

Symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are more or less the same and include polyuria (increased urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), polyphagia (increased appetite), weight loss and fatigue^{[1, 5, 6]}. These symptoms are seen in almost all the patients who suffer from diabetes and enable a doctor to diagnose and prescribe medicine. Blurred vision is also associated with type 1 diabetes. Constant fatigue reduces the quality of life of the patient. A patient who is on treatment for diabetes can get hypoglycemic symptoms as well^{[1, 5]}. Doctors diagnose diabetes with the help of these symptoms and may prescribe medicine.

• How is diabetes treated?

Insulin is a prescription medicine for patients who suffer with type 1 diabetes as they don’t produce insulin at all^{[1, 2, 5, 7]}. A doctor initially manages a pre-diabetic patient through lifestyle modifications, such as adhering to a healthy diet and regular physical activity. If their blood glucose levels fail to come down into normal range, prescriptions for medication may be provided by doctors. In type 2 diabetes if the blood glucose levels cannot be controlled by medications, as the next step doctors may prescribe insulin^{[1, 2, 7]}.

• How can an online doctor on Gotodoctor.ca treat diabetes ?

Online doctors on Gotodoctor.ca treat diabetes through virtual care services. An appointment can be easily made with an online doctor^{[1, 8-10]}. Diabetes can be treated via virtual care methods by monitoring blood glucose levels. Glucometers are available to check blood glucose levels at home^[7]. An online doctor will take a comprehensive history of your signs and symptoms and provide you with prescriptions. Prescriptions can be obtained by online doctors. Virtual care services provided by Gotodoctor.ca assure comfort, convenience and a higher level of care for the patient.

References

1. Bashshur, R.L., et al., The empirical evidence for the telemedicine intervention in diabetes management. Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association, 2015. 21(5): p. 321-354.
2. DiMeglio, L.A., C. Evans-Molina, and R.A. Oram, Type 1 diabetes. Lancet (London, England), 2018. 391(10138): p. 2449-2462.
3. Reinehr, T., Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents. World journal of diabetes, 2013. 4(6): p. 270-281.
4. Simmons, K.M. and A.W. Michels, Type 1 diabetes: A predictable disease. World journal of diabetes, 2015. 6(3): p. 380-390.
5. Clark, N.G., K.M. Fox, and S. Grandy, Symptoms of Diabetes and Their Association With the Risk and Presence of Diabetes. Diabetes Care, 2007. 30(11): p. 2868.
6. Eaton, L.H., et al., Development and implementation of a telehealth-enhanced intervention for pain and symptom management. Contemporary clinical trials, 2014. 38(2): p. 213-220.
7. Chatterjee, S. and M.J. Davies, Current management of diabetes mellitus and future directions in care. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 2015. 91(1081): p. 612.
8. Almathami, H.K.Y., K.T. Win, and E. Vlahu-Gjorgievska, Barriers and Facilitators That Influence Telemedicine-Based, Real-Time, Online Consultation at Patients’ Homes: Systematic Literature Review. J Med Internet Res, 2020. 22(2): p. e16407.
9. Bokolo Anthony, J., Use of Telemedicine and Virtual Care for Remote Treatment in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Medical Systems, 2020. 44(7): p. 132.
10. Klonoff, D.C., Telemedicine for Diabetes: Current and Future Trends. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 2015. 10(1): p. 3-5.