The Bloomington-Normal community needs an endocrinologist, a physician who specializes in diabetes and other endocrine disorders.

Primary-care providers treat many people with diabetes; however, when complications occur or children are diagnosed, patients are often referred to an endocrinologist for specialized care.

Children and adults with diabetes face many obstacles when a community lacks specialized care.

Those referred to endocrinologist often find limited appointment availability. It is not uncommon to wait six months before being seen. Travel outside of the area is required and is not always readily accessible.

Work or school absences needed for close monitoring place additional burdens on patients and family members. If hospitalization is required, the hospital stay must occur in the location where the endocrinologist has admission privileges, presenting more barriers to care.

The American Diabetes Association reports 20 million people have diabetes in the United States, with many more have it unknowingly.

The incidence has increased an astounding 54 percent between 1997 and 2004. By 2025, it is estimated 300 million people worldwide will have diabetes.

Complications associated with uncontrolled diabetes are serious.

The risk of heart disease and stroke are two to four times higher than that of a person without diabetes. It is the leading cause of kidney failure and newly diagnosed blindness. Lower limb amputation is 10 times more likely for a person with diabetes than for one without diabetes.

These statistics demonstrate the seriousness of the disease.

As a nurse and parent of someone with diabetes, I feel it is crucial that barriers to specialized care are minimized. Optimal diabetes control has been proven to reduce complications.

Our community, patients and family members with diabetes, can benefit by the care of a local endocrinologist.

Leslie Carmack

Downs

Do you agree?