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What Diabetes Is: Chapter Six Where to Get More Help With Your Diabetes In this chapter: People Who Can Help You Organizations That Can Help You People Who Can Help You Your doctor. He or she may be your doctor at the clinic where you go for health care, your family doctor, or someone who has special training in caring for people with diabetes. A doctor with that kind of special training is called an endocrinologist or diabetologist. You'll talk with your doctor about what kind of medicine you need and how much you should take. You'll also agree on a target blood glucose range and blood pressure and cholesterol targets. Your doctor will do tests to be sure that your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol are staying on track and that you're staying healthy. Ask your doctor if you should take aspirin every day to help prevent heart disease. Your diabetes educator. A diabetes educator may be a nurse, a dietitian, or another kind of health care worker. Diabetes educators teach you about meal planning, diabetes medicines, physical activity, how to check your blood glucose, and how to fit diabetes care into your everyday life. Don't be shy about asking your doctor or diabetes educator about the information in this guide. Ask questions if you don't understand something. After all, it's your health! Your family and friends. Taking care of your diabetes is a daily job. You may need help or support from your family or friends. You may want to bring a family member or close friend with you when you visit your doctor or diabetes educator. Taking good care of your diabetes can sometimes be a family affair! A counselor or mental health worker. You might feel sad about having diabetes or get tired of taking care of yourself. Or you might be having problems because of work, school, or family. If diabetes makes you feel sad or angry or if you have other problems that make you feel bad, you can talk to a counselor or mental health worker. Your doctor or diabetes educator can help you find a counselor if you need one. Organizations That Can Help You How to find a diabetes educator To find a diabetes educator near you, call the American Association of Diabetes Educators toll-free at 1­800­832­6874, or look on the Internet at www.diabeteseducator.org and click on "Find a Diabetes Educator." How to find a dietitian To find a dietitian near you, call the American Dietetic Association toll-free at 1­800­366­1655, or look on the Internet at www.eatright.org and click on "Find a Dietitian." To find programs about diabetes or for additional information, contact: American Diabetes Association 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311 Phone: 1­800­342­2383 Internet: www.diabetes.org Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International 120 Wall Street, 19th Floor New York, NY 10005 Phone: 1­800­533­2873 Internet: www.jdrf.org Both these organizations have magazines and other information for people with diabetes. They also have local groups in many places where you can meet other people who have diabetes. How to get more information about diabetes To get more information about taking care of diabetes, contact: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 1 Information Way Bethesda, MD 20892­3560 Phone: 1­800­860­8747 Fax: 703­738­4929 Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov National Diabetes Education Program 1 Diabetes Way Bethesda, MD 20892­3600 Phone: 1­800­438­5383 Fax: 703­738­4929 Internet: http://ndep.nih.gov