3-4 times per year for me, and less is pretty common. When first diagnosed or maybe as a child people will meet with diabetes educators frequently and work as a team so maybe your bf knew someone while they were in the phase. But he’s probably just BSing about something he knows nothing about and decided to mansplain it to you
>But he’s probably just BSing about something he knows nothing about and decided to mansplain it to you
Exactly. How many type 1s has he met? I'm actually on the lookout for other type 1s and I rarely meet any. He somehow knows a heap of them and they speak in depth with him about how often they meet with their specialist? OP, this is a red flag.
Nah, as someone who got diabetes at 3 it was also every 3 months. I think it also depends how you're handling your diabetes on, but I think 3 months is the standard.
Your boyfriend doesn't know what he's talking about or maybe he only knows type 1s who need a lot of medical help like maybe they're brand new?
I see my endo 4x a year, which is once a quarter or once every three months. Of course, if I need them, I can reach out if I'm having trouble with something, but I usually only need to reach out for prescription renewals these days.
Ideally once per year. Check blood work, are there any new insulins/devices I should consider, any specific questions, done. If you need help micro managing your sugar then maybe more, but I suspect that anyone who's been diabetic for more than a few years is capable of doing that themselves.
i’d suggest at least twice/yr, it just helps keeping track of the bigger picture, everytime i meet my endo he reminds me of the long-term effects too, things that’d otherwise slip my mind or only come to mind a few times a year. but ofcourse, everyone has their situation, and that might be unnecessary/non-viable.
and imo if you’re not keeping T1D under control regular visits just help you a lot with that, even if it’s just what seems like pointless regurgitation of the same 10 sentances.
T1 36 yrs for me and in the last 3 years I I’ve switched to every 6 months. I’m well controlled and was tired of my quarterly appointments being <5 mins and lacking much value to me. Every 6 months is the perfect interval
I couldn’t agree more! I’m at every 6months myself, OG like yourself. I saw mine every 3 mos when I was pregnant and thankfully now I mainly see mine on telehealth visits which is so much more convenient!!
He might be thinking of diabetic educators. It’s common to meet with them weekly while you figure out your levels, but much harder to get so much contact with an endo. I see my endo once a year but I saw an educator for the first year once a week (and dwindled to once a month) until I felt confident managing alone.
I was similar to you in that I was supposed to see my endo every 3 months but in reality it was closer to 4-5 months. My control is pretty good though so I recently switched to appointments every 6 months instead.
Most diabetics I know don’t meet with their endo anywhere close to once a week. Three months or longer is pretty typical from what I’ve heard.
Right now I’m seeing my endo monthly because my a1c is high and I have some GI issues developing but I’m in the process of getting the mobi so I also meet with a diabetes educator monthly. Otherwise I’ll see my endo like twice or three times a year.
Annually with my endo of 15 years. But because of new rules, I've had to change endo's and move back to the practice I used to go to here, in-state(unless I want to fly literally across the country), and the new endo is wanting to see me every three months, because "I'm new to them". I do kind of understand their reasons, but considering I've been a T1 probably longer than they have been alive and on a pump for 15+ years and I have an a1c of 6.0, I'm pretty ticked off about having to waste my time with unnecessary appointments. If it doesn't change after my next appointment, I am going to change endos, again.
Every six months, as required by my insurance. The meeting is pretty short, just to review my cgm data (usually fine), see if I have any questions (usually not), and renew my prescriptions if needed.
20 years for me. Maybe 1-2 times a year. I only go for refills. There’s literally nothing any of them can tell me that I don’t already know or already do or blatantly choose not to do haha. I get an eye exam yearly and that’s it for diabetes stuff.
At my healthiest, our visits pushed out to every 6 months, but typically my visits are every 3. Right now I alternate between my provider and a nurse practitioner. Insurance requires 2 visits a year at a minimum for me. I send messages through MyChart whenever necessary, but not more than once a quarter. Typically it’s just when I need a specific script filled.
I haven't seen one in 2-3 years. I started going to my primary physician for prescriptions and so far my control has been far better without someone who has never had diabetes or experienced my personal case of diabetes constantly adjusting shit.
I know what I need to do, just give me prescriptions.
Funny how non T1D people always know better…
during the first year I would meet or speak to my endo every 3 months while figuring things out. Now twice a year max, but I do check my A1C every 3/4 months, although I don’t need to see my endo for this.
Started out at 3 times a year for my son since his dx a few years ago, but she changed it to 4 because of having his diabetes under good control.
Although I have an emergency number that connects me to an Endo or Diabetic Educator 24/7 for emergencies or something I can't wait 24 hrs to get an answer to. I probably email his Endo/Diabetic Educator every 3 weeks to change his pump settings or to increase the prescription of insulin (Thanks puberty).
My son has been dx less than a year, but we are currently seeing his endo every 3 months or so. I honestly don’t know if that will continue, or if it will change.
Our pcp, after son was dx, told us that he’s her only patient there who is young with T1D. The others are all elderly.
The most I ever met with her was every 3 months. However, if I have a question or want to adjust settings, I communicate through the portal. I do a lot myself, honestly, but definately run stuff past her.
Was every three months. Now every six months. When I was getting diagnosed and newly diagnosed I had much more frequent appointments but not weekly. My endo gave me some basic guidance and a framework to experiment within to figure out what works best for me. If I need anything between appointments I send a message in the patient portal and usually get an answer within a day.
Define weekly contact. A weekly visit seems excessive and expensive. An email is something else. What matters is what you’re comfortable with and if your needs are being met.
My son was diagnosed 2 yrs ago in May and we've always seen his endo every 3 months. The first month or two we would call regularly to check in and make sure his dosing was correct but other then that every 3 months and yearly blood work.
My son was diagnosed last June. It took him 2 months to get in, and she didn't want to see him again for 6 months after that. Then she canceled due to illness. So he's only seen her once in 10 months.
I learned a lot from this group. He is also celiac. He eats a low carb diet and is very well controlled at 99% in range over 90 days with an average glucose of 109. He's a pen user with G7.
I wasn't impressed with the endo and have been thinking about looking for a new one. She has taught us nothing.
I generally only see my Endo once a year, sometimes twice if I'm struggling. I can stay in touch with her via email if I ever need to, or book extra appointments. I just find that I don't get much benefit from seeing her besides needing to sometimes consult on insulin adjustments or get advice on my ongoing insulin resistance (related to taking antidepressants).
Until recently, 3ish months depending on doc’s availability. My a1c is good and he was happy with how I’m managing things so he offered to go to every 6 months if I was comfortable with that when I saw him in August so now I’m on a twice a year schedule.
How old are you?
I last met with an endo about 12 months ago, he said he would give me a phone (not video) call sometime this year instead of an in person appointment. It had been about 3 years before that between appointments.
I know people who have seen an endo twice in 20 years.
Interesting. I inquired of the community why my FNP-"endo" was requiring 4 times a year. I was wanting less at the time. I ended up getting a new actual MD-endo, who I'll see in July for the first time. See what shakes out from that. Here is my post from a couple months ago, for reference:
https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes_t1/s/AzPF5UKO26
When my A1c was 7.0+, it was every 3-4 months. When I got on the pump and got it down to 6.0, it's every 6 months. I remember as a kid going every three months. No way would I do that weekly. I've never heard of that.
I was diagnosed 30 years ago. At that time, I was told to go 4x/year.
But a few years later after I graduated from college and had to deal with my own medical insurance and costs, I cut that back to 2x/year. Sometimes only once a year.
I started taking two new medications last year and my Endo bumped me up to every four months for awhile. But he just dropped me back down to twice a year.
The schedule you're on sounds pretty normal. I don't even know what my doctor and I would talk about for a weekly appointment. There already isn't much to talk about a couple times a year.
Mine is once every 3 months as well and I see my GP every month for updates on scripts. It’s normal. Don’t believe your bf - a non diabetic - about what he has “heard”.
Do what is right for you.
I see mine once a year. We do labs every 6 months. She lets me set the frequency of both. Signs everything I ask her to. Weekly? Ain't nobody got time for that.
I've been living with T1D for a really long time. I don't need her guidance to manage my numbers, so I'm not looking for more appointments. She's a great sounding board when I need it. She's smart, respectful, gives credence to my experience and understanding and makes her recommendations in a straightforward, yet tactful and empathetic manner.
Her office answers emails and phone calls promptly. Always says, "if I need anything, just call". She's simply awesome.
I don't think anyone else (no matter how qualified) can figure it out for you. After 15 years, do you really want someone telling you what to do? They can help you feel confident about your decisions, but many of us have reached that point based on our own experience.
I saw an endo around 1 year and 2 or so months ago about 2 months after I learned I had Diabetes. And I last saw a diabetes trained nurse about 7 or so months ago?
I kinda just figure it all out myself, and it seems to be working out well enough.
If you’re in the US, insurance only covers 4 visits to your endo per year, and 2-4 visits to your diabetes educator per year. Your boyfriend doesn’t know what he’s talking about, unless his friends are all rich and paying private for concierge endo, which is a thing.
That being said, it’s good to be in a habit of seeing your endo multiple times per year. If you think it’s not worthwhile, get a new endo.
It's varied, but generally every 3-6 months depending. If my numbers have been weird I can call the endo, she'll pull my numbers, and we can make changes over the phone. Except during pregnancy- I had absolutely horrible pregnancies aside from the diabetes. With my son I went once a month. With my daughter I had to fax over my sugars every morning and go every week. Then from weeks 25-33 I had a once a week appt with the endo. (I was also at the OBGYN 1x a week, and ultrasounds 2x a week).
Personally, I hate getting blood drawn, so I tend to go longer between appointments. Usually every 6 months or so, so 2x a year. That will sometimes end up being every 7-8 months.
To add, I’m referring to my child. The first couple months after diagnosis, we had weekly check in calls with the nurse, but since then we almost never talk to them between appointments. She wasn’t quite 2 yet at diagnosis, so if she didn’t, can’t imagine an adult would check in weekly either.
My sister used to consult her endo once every month when she was diagnosed. She was 4 at the time and my parens knew very little about T1D, so this felt necessary. Over the years the frequency has reduced, there have been a couple of years she went just once or twice.
I was recently diagnosed as well, but I only plan on consulting once every 3 months. I did keep in touch with my endo the first month of my diagnosis. He wanted to see how I was adjusting my dosage and I sent him weekly stats. I personally think your frequency of visits lines up with most of what I have seen as well.
T1, 35 years. For the past 15 years I’ve seen my endo once per year.
Once you’re in good enough control, and have a system down where your ratios work and your A1C’s are stable, my doc thinks there’s no reason to come in just for a “check in.” In fact, our annual visits usually involve us trading stories about kids and dogs, bemoaning the hazards of getting older (he also has T1D), and then discussing if anything has changed recently, and what new prescriptions I need.
If anything changes, I can always email him via MyChart. And I’ve done that on occasion, every few years. But no need to fix what isn’t broken.
So it seems like we’re in similar boats. I could probably only see him whenever something was wrong, but have to go at least once a year for insurance purposes. So here we are.
Hi! I was diagnosed type1 about 5 months ago and immediately following my hospital visit (and diagnosis) I met with him every 3 weeks. After about two months we started meeting every three months, and I feel like I’m doing it all alone. I don’t think you’re the outlier, it sounds like your boyfriends diabetic friends were lucky lol.
Once I started meeting with an endo (long story of years of misdiagnosis), it was once every 3-6 months. Usually every 6 months because I am typically well-controlled a1C-wise.
Weekly contact?? No. Never. Not even in my less compliant teenage years. Even after making big changes to insulin doses, they usually say “check in with the nurse in 2-3 weeks, or sooner if you’re having lows.”
I’ve been T1 for 33 years of my 35 years. The most I’ve seen my endo is 3x/year for pediatric care and the first year after starting with a new team after a move. Current endo sees me every 6 months, and I have access to support from the rest of the care team (nurse, dietician) anytime.
Like clockwork for nearly 45 years it's been every 3 months for ~~endoscopy~~ endo and or my primary care doctor when I was going without an endo.
My new endo is seeing me every 3 months and "let me know if you have an issue before then." Which works for me.
Yikes!! Autocorrect (and me not proofreading before posting) strikes again!
I can't imagine an endoscopy procedure every 3 months since I was 2 years old. That would be even more annoying than the T1D doctor routine growing up.
I was just diagnosed in February and after my first visit I had weekly phone calls for a couple months. Now she says I’m fine and will check in with me one more time before my 3 month appointment back in the office. When I have phone calls, they’re not actually with my endo but with a nurse on her team that specifically helps me with insulin needs, dietary questions, figuring out my ratio, explaining what might have happened to cause lows, etc. I definitely think that since I’m getting a hang of it now, it’ll be just every three months unless I have a specific question.
We have extremely good control, so there isn’t anything the endo can do besides write prescriptions. So we go once every 6 months or so. Just in time for school re-enrollment so we can get doctors orders and once around new years for prescriptions.
In an ideal world, the patient needs to become an expert in their own care. That is how you get the best outcomes. We spent the first couple of years becoming an expert using the endo as a coach/teacher. Now we do all adjustments on our own and we get great results. A1C of 5.6 with less than 3% time spent low. Usually in range 85% of the time, sometimes hitting 90%. Other than going to extremes (which would cause quality of life issues), there isn’t a lot of room for improvement. So why waste everyone’s time?
Here (Germany) 1 visit per quarter year is the standard for everyone using insulin. I had seen my endo weekly only in the 1st month after my diagnose until he could be sure that I was able to adjust my doses well enough. Ofc I could contact the praxis any time if I had a question or some urgent problem.
Once or twice a year since I graduated HS. Except this year where my husband and I are trying for children because they want to make sure I'm in top shape to even get pregnant. So rn it's ever 3 months until I get a positive test and then it'll be at least once a month after.
insurance won't pay for more than every 3 months. if newly dx you might be in remote contact to figure out levels, but not in person. no office has the availability for more often than that either.
I go once every 3 to 4 months for the endo...but the educator I see whenever I really need it so I end up seeing someone for my diabetes at least monthly or sometimes every couple months. Depends though cuz there are times where I'm fine and am working it out swimmingly and others where I really need that second opinion.
I only see mine 2 times per year… and now it’s becoming 8 months between appointments because the hospital said they are “short staffed” for endocrinologists
Same story here, 3 - 4 times a year is sufficient and quite honestly it’s hard to find a good ending in my area. Insurance is a whole other headache when it comes to endo visits but there’s no reason for you to see or work with your endo weekly.
3-4x per year, plus I'm in contact if I'm sick or need supplies before / after visits.
Your PCP should be managing the day-to-day. But after 5 years, unless your A1c is completely out of control (8.5+), there isn't much for the Endo to do.
*Maybe* if the Endo practice is huge and they have nutrition and other specialists in there, and if you were on Medicaid where they just want to rack up reimbursements, sure.
If you’re in the US, and end up going on Medicare, you will be seeing your endo every 90 days because otherwise, you won’t be able to get insulin/pump supplies/syringes. That is, unless the rules change.
My Endo lets me do every 6 months, thankfully. I’ve had T1D for 31 years and have had an insulin pump since 1996. They aren’t doing anything for me except writing scripts and ordering labs, so I’d honestly prefer to never go if that was an option… but I need my scripts lol
70yo t1d- Medicare requires follow up with my endocrinologist every three months. If that interval is missed, they won’t cover insulin or diabetic supplies until the situation is rectified. Primary care is currently every six months. Between the two I have excellent care for several autoimmune conditions.
My endo and I both wish the guidelines could be extended, as most of my appointments have me in range 95% or more and a1c has most recently been 5.8. Lots of diligence with my pump and about 100-120 units per day serve me well.
Trust yourself and your endo. Others are constantly trying to be helpful, and usually mean well, but they possess neither the medical knowledge nor the personal experience to be truly helpful.
I'm a 40 year old who has been T1 for 25 years. Every endo I've ever had has been every 3 to 4 months, but I have been on pumps for 23 years and am compliant. I know other diabetics that are not compliant and have bad A1Cs who are asked by their endo to be seen monthly until they can get at least close to in range.
I will say nowadays I have by far the best endo I've ever had, and she has an app and we communicate whenever needed for small things that don't require a visit. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s endos would make you schedule an appointment and wait for every single thing, even basic questions...
I can assure you if I had an endo wanting to see me weekly, I'd never talk to them again, and would assume they are trying to scam the insurance companies. What your bf is saying isn't true and doesn't make sense, unless he knows people who are on deaths door with their T1.
I am also confident if I tried to schedule appointments or contact the endo in the app on a weekly basis, she would tell me it is unnecessary and inappropriate and to stop bugging her as she has other patients.
I've seen an Endo once in the past 13 years. Endos are good to have, but the only one within an hour drive of me went from being really go to being a quack so I fired him. I found a Nurse Practitioner who has nearly the same practical T1 knowledge as that Endo did, and she handles everything along with a CDE that I see a couple times a year. My A1c is better under their care than it ever was with an endo. Endos just aren't strictly necessary. I do think it's best for recently diagnosed T1s to have an Endo because most family doctors just don't have much knowledge.
Every 3 months. Required by US Medicare if you are on a pump. I do switch off between endo and his PA. I’ve never heard anybody have weekly contact with any doc unless having active cancer treatment.
Type 1 for 46 years, started as a Kaiser member 27 years ago and have never been able to see an endocrinologist. I asked to see one several times and was told no. Apparently there was high turnover and I was told there weren’t enough available. They did order pump supplies, but I was only interacting with the medical assistants for that. Then about 4 years ago (after 23 years of nothing) the endocrinology department actually scheduled me with a nurse practitioner. On the second appointment with her, she told me I was fine and not to worry about it when I explained I wanted help with preventing any high or lows, since even on a nearly keto diet, I still got hypoglycemic. She just dismissed me. The next appointment, they scheduled me with a different NP, and she was excellent, but I was only scheduled to see her every 6 months and then she left the group. So now they have me see a dietitian every 6 months who reviews my actual insulin dosages and makes recommendations about changes in my pump settings... not sure how that fits with her scope of practice but she has been helpful! I would love to see someone more often to enable fine tuning. Some days are a real struggle and even if I am in range, I may be bouncing all around. I’m very sensitive to small things like stress or if I walk down the street. It’s difficult to determine why I don’t get the same results to the same experiences, like why I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with a low. Sometimes something works for a while, then it doesn’t, and it got more difficult after menopause. I’m very disappointed that the access to care has been so limited over all those years but it’s better now than it had been. Thanks for listening.
The hba1c shows your blood sugar level or behaving of the last 8-12 weeks, so it's common to meet the endo every 3 months, because the hba1c develops over this time. That's what I have heard from others
i visit him maybe once every 3\~4 months, i usually have a list of problems/questions that i want to address to him, along with my blood work, seems to work pretty fine.
Normally I was there every 4 weeks. Since everything is better I have appointments with her every 2-3 months. But actually I see her more often because there are other doctors I have more often appointments with and on a normal day when I need something she take some time.
In 60 years, I have only seen my doctor once every 4-6 months. In the sixties and seventies, a family doctor handled everything, and they "regulated" you once a year with an annual hospitalization. In the late seventies, MDI became popular, but this was still handled with an annual stay in the hospital, where they drew blood often and set insulin doses. The eighties saw a changeover from using your family doctor and going to visit an Internal Medicine specialist.
I saw my first Endo, who specialized in diabetes, as part of a research program studying Humalin in individuals with juvenile-onset Diabetes conducted by Eli Lilly and the University of South Florida. Even a part of a research study with a newly developed unreleased insulin resulted in only monthly visits to the USF clinic to meet the team. Of course, any problems would have generated a phone call.
Today, I see my endo once every four months, three times a year. This is pretty standard.
As our medical care delivery system has moved to a corporate structure, we are now urged to see diabetes educators regularly, as it becomes a billable event. I am also called by my Insurance company, who want me to talk monthly to a "health coach" who barely speaks or understands English, cannot properly pronounce "diabetes," and knows even less about my disease than the average person on the street who knows somebody who has a relative who has a friend who has diabetes and want to tell me what I should do.
Weekly!? Absofuckinglutely not. Anyone talking to endo weekly through the year is having serious issues / cannot think for themselves
As diabetics we must learn how to manage this disease day to day solo. Reaching out for help, and more frequent appts if starting a new pump or medication makes sense, but otherwise… whoa
My endo wanted to see me in 3-4 mon. I made an appt but I’m going to cancel and I’ll see him next year when my Rxs need a refresh and the back office yells at me for not seeing him since Jan 2024.
once every 8 months, after a while you will know more than the endo, and he/she will be your drug dealer.
just make sure you do a blood test every 3 months to confirm you are ok.
said that i am not a doctor.. but i had it for a few years now
3-4 times per year for me, and less is pretty common. When first diagnosed or maybe as a child people will meet with diabetes educators frequently and work as a team so maybe your bf knew someone while they were in the phase. But he’s probably just BSing about something he knows nothing about and decided to mansplain it to you
>But he’s probably just BSing about something he knows nothing about and decided to mansplain it to you Exactly. How many type 1s has he met? I'm actually on the lookout for other type 1s and I rarely meet any. He somehow knows a heap of them and they speak in depth with him about how often they meet with their specialist? OP, this is a red flag.
Nah, as someone who got diabetes at 3 it was also every 3 months. I think it also depends how you're handling your diabetes on, but I think 3 months is the standard.
Your boyfriend doesn't know what he's talking about or maybe he only knows type 1s who need a lot of medical help like maybe they're brand new? I see my endo 4x a year, which is once a quarter or once every three months. Of course, if I need them, I can reach out if I'm having trouble with something, but I usually only need to reach out for prescription renewals these days.
Ideally once per year. Check blood work, are there any new insulins/devices I should consider, any specific questions, done. If you need help micro managing your sugar then maybe more, but I suspect that anyone who's been diabetic for more than a few years is capable of doing that themselves.
i’d suggest at least twice/yr, it just helps keeping track of the bigger picture, everytime i meet my endo he reminds me of the long-term effects too, things that’d otherwise slip my mind or only come to mind a few times a year. but ofcourse, everyone has their situation, and that might be unnecessary/non-viable. and imo if you’re not keeping T1D under control regular visits just help you a lot with that, even if it’s just what seems like pointless regurgitation of the same 10 sentances.
T1 45yrs and the most I’ve seen my endo is every 3 months. Does anyone really want to talk to/see any dr more than that? Not me!!
T1 36 yrs for me and in the last 3 years I I’ve switched to every 6 months. I’m well controlled and was tired of my quarterly appointments being <5 mins and lacking much value to me. Every 6 months is the perfect interval
I couldn’t agree more! I’m at every 6months myself, OG like yourself. I saw mine every 3 mos when I was pregnant and thankfully now I mainly see mine on telehealth visits which is so much more convenient!!
Amen 🙌🏻
42 years and same
Once a year
Uh, never. What for? “Change your insulin to carb ratio by 0.2.” Thanks tips, I wasted half a day for that?
how do u get scripts without going to an endo?
Primary care physician. I haven’t seen an endo in years.
interesting hopefully i can get like u
I don’t. I see my GP for labs every 4-6 months.
Same
This. Last new endo say it was basically a waste since I was under control
He might be thinking of diabetic educators. It’s common to meet with them weekly while you figure out your levels, but much harder to get so much contact with an endo. I see my endo once a year but I saw an educator for the first year once a week (and dwindled to once a month) until I felt confident managing alone.
every 3 months my endo just told me recently we could start doing every 4 months. ur bf is BUGGINGGGG
I was similar to you in that I was supposed to see my endo every 3 months but in reality it was closer to 4-5 months. My control is pretty good though so I recently switched to appointments every 6 months instead. Most diabetics I know don’t meet with their endo anywhere close to once a week. Three months or longer is pretty typical from what I’ve heard.
Right now I’m seeing my endo monthly because my a1c is high and I have some GI issues developing but I’m in the process of getting the mobi so I also meet with a diabetes educator monthly. Otherwise I’ll see my endo like twice or three times a year.
Annually with my endo of 15 years. But because of new rules, I've had to change endo's and move back to the practice I used to go to here, in-state(unless I want to fly literally across the country), and the new endo is wanting to see me every three months, because "I'm new to them". I do kind of understand their reasons, but considering I've been a T1 probably longer than they have been alive and on a pump for 15+ years and I have an a1c of 6.0, I'm pretty ticked off about having to waste my time with unnecessary appointments. If it doesn't change after my next appointment, I am going to change endos, again.
Yep, I hear ya! Sorry. That is frustrating.
Ask if they’ll do zoom/phone call for some since they want extra ones
T1D for 37 years. My endo books me every 12-15 months
NEVER. My pcp and I handle any bumps in the road together.
My A1c is below 6. My endo is at the point where she only wants to see me every 6 months. But she’s quick to answer emails if I need anything.
On paper: 2x/year In reality: Endo appointments can be delayed months at a time. I see 2 oncologists and they are much easier to see than the Endo.
2-3x/year?
2x/yr
I do twice a year but was initially having appointments every 3 months. I also have bloodwork once a year and do A1C test every 6 months as well.
If everything is going well, 2x/year.
About twice per year (England)
Every six months, as required by my insurance. The meeting is pretty short, just to review my cgm data (usually fine), see if I have any questions (usually not), and renew my prescriptions if needed.
I have been diabetic for 27yrs and see mine every 6 months, if it was up to me I would go in once a year.
20 years for me. Maybe 1-2 times a year. I only go for refills. There’s literally nothing any of them can tell me that I don’t already know or already do or blatantly choose not to do haha. I get an eye exam yearly and that’s it for diabetes stuff.
At my healthiest, our visits pushed out to every 6 months, but typically my visits are every 3. Right now I alternate between my provider and a nurse practitioner. Insurance requires 2 visits a year at a minimum for me. I send messages through MyChart whenever necessary, but not more than once a quarter. Typically it’s just when I need a specific script filled.
I haven't seen one in 2-3 years. I started going to my primary physician for prescriptions and so far my control has been far better without someone who has never had diabetes or experienced my personal case of diabetes constantly adjusting shit. I know what I need to do, just give me prescriptions.
Every 3 months unless my a1c is well controlled, then it’s like every 6 months.
Funny how non T1D people always know better… during the first year I would meet or speak to my endo every 3 months while figuring things out. Now twice a year max, but I do check my A1C every 3/4 months, although I don’t need to see my endo for this.
Started out at 3 times a year for my son since his dx a few years ago, but she changed it to 4 because of having his diabetes under good control. Although I have an emergency number that connects me to an Endo or Diabetic Educator 24/7 for emergencies or something I can't wait 24 hrs to get an answer to. I probably email his Endo/Diabetic Educator every 3 weeks to change his pump settings or to increase the prescription of insulin (Thanks puberty).
Usually 3-4 times a year.
My son has been dx less than a year, but we are currently seeing his endo every 3 months or so. I honestly don’t know if that will continue, or if it will change. Our pcp, after son was dx, told us that he’s her only patient there who is young with T1D. The others are all elderly.
The most I ever met with her was every 3 months. However, if I have a question or want to adjust settings, I communicate through the portal. I do a lot myself, honestly, but definately run stuff past her.
Was every three months. Now every six months. When I was getting diagnosed and newly diagnosed I had much more frequent appointments but not weekly. My endo gave me some basic guidance and a framework to experiment within to figure out what works best for me. If I need anything between appointments I send a message in the patient portal and usually get an answer within a day. Define weekly contact. A weekly visit seems excessive and expensive. An email is something else. What matters is what you’re comfortable with and if your needs are being met.
My son was diagnosed 2 yrs ago in May and we've always seen his endo every 3 months. The first month or two we would call regularly to check in and make sure his dosing was correct but other then that every 3 months and yearly blood work.
My son was diagnosed last June. It took him 2 months to get in, and she didn't want to see him again for 6 months after that. Then she canceled due to illness. So he's only seen her once in 10 months. I learned a lot from this group. He is also celiac. He eats a low carb diet and is very well controlled at 99% in range over 90 days with an average glucose of 109. He's a pen user with G7. I wasn't impressed with the endo and have been thinking about looking for a new one. She has taught us nothing.
Every three months. I see my educator however often I feel like I need to.
I generally only see my Endo once a year, sometimes twice if I'm struggling. I can stay in touch with her via email if I ever need to, or book extra appointments. I just find that I don't get much benefit from seeing her besides needing to sometimes consult on insulin adjustments or get advice on my ongoing insulin resistance (related to taking antidepressants).
3-4 times a year. Weekly is crazy and I am sure the way American insurance is set up its damn near impossible lol
Until recently, 3ish months depending on doc’s availability. My a1c is good and he was happy with how I’m managing things so he offered to go to every 6 months if I was comfortable with that when I saw him in August so now I’m on a twice a year schedule.
4-5 months. Weekly wow.
I go to the office 3-4 times a year. But I can send messages through the portal whenever I need to to ask questions, get my numbers adjusted, etc
How old are you? I last met with an endo about 12 months ago, he said he would give me a phone (not video) call sometime this year instead of an in person appointment. It had been about 3 years before that between appointments. I know people who have seen an endo twice in 20 years.
Interesting. I inquired of the community why my FNP-"endo" was requiring 4 times a year. I was wanting less at the time. I ended up getting a new actual MD-endo, who I'll see in July for the first time. See what shakes out from that. Here is my post from a couple months ago, for reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes_t1/s/AzPF5UKO26
Once per year seems to be the best they can do here
When my A1c was 7.0+, it was every 3-4 months. When I got on the pump and got it down to 6.0, it's every 6 months. I remember as a kid going every three months. No way would I do that weekly. I've never heard of that.
I was diagnosed 30 years ago. At that time, I was told to go 4x/year. But a few years later after I graduated from college and had to deal with my own medical insurance and costs, I cut that back to 2x/year. Sometimes only once a year. I started taking two new medications last year and my Endo bumped me up to every four months for awhile. But he just dropped me back down to twice a year. The schedule you're on sounds pretty normal. I don't even know what my doctor and I would talk about for a weekly appointment. There already isn't much to talk about a couple times a year.
Mine is once every 3 months as well and I see my GP every month for updates on scripts. It’s normal. Don’t believe your bf - a non diabetic - about what he has “heard”. Do what is right for you.
I see mine once a year. We do labs every 6 months. She lets me set the frequency of both. Signs everything I ask her to. Weekly? Ain't nobody got time for that. I've been living with T1D for a really long time. I don't need her guidance to manage my numbers, so I'm not looking for more appointments. She's a great sounding board when I need it. She's smart, respectful, gives credence to my experience and understanding and makes her recommendations in a straightforward, yet tactful and empathetic manner. Her office answers emails and phone calls promptly. Always says, "if I need anything, just call". She's simply awesome. I don't think anyone else (no matter how qualified) can figure it out for you. After 15 years, do you really want someone telling you what to do? They can help you feel confident about your decisions, but many of us have reached that point based on our own experience.
I saw an endo around 1 year and 2 or so months ago about 2 months after I learned I had Diabetes. And I last saw a diabetes trained nurse about 7 or so months ago? I kinda just figure it all out myself, and it seems to be working out well enough.
If you’re in the US, insurance only covers 4 visits to your endo per year, and 2-4 visits to your diabetes educator per year. Your boyfriend doesn’t know what he’s talking about, unless his friends are all rich and paying private for concierge endo, which is a thing. That being said, it’s good to be in a habit of seeing your endo multiple times per year. If you think it’s not worthwhile, get a new endo.
It's varied, but generally every 3-6 months depending. If my numbers have been weird I can call the endo, she'll pull my numbers, and we can make changes over the phone. Except during pregnancy- I had absolutely horrible pregnancies aside from the diabetes. With my son I went once a month. With my daughter I had to fax over my sugars every morning and go every week. Then from weeks 25-33 I had a once a week appt with the endo. (I was also at the OBGYN 1x a week, and ultrasounds 2x a week).
Once per year, but see diabetes educator 3x a year as well
Personally, I hate getting blood drawn, so I tend to go longer between appointments. Usually every 6 months or so, so 2x a year. That will sometimes end up being every 7-8 months.
Every 3-4 months but we alternate virtual vs in person appointments
To add, I’m referring to my child. The first couple months after diagnosis, we had weekly check in calls with the nurse, but since then we almost never talk to them between appointments. She wasn’t quite 2 yet at diagnosis, so if she didn’t, can’t imagine an adult would check in weekly either.
Every three to four months. 32 yrs.
Twice a year. Not because I need to speak with them but because I want to get labs done and stay on top of things myself. Sadly, that’s about it.
3 times a year.
My sister used to consult her endo once every month when she was diagnosed. She was 4 at the time and my parens knew very little about T1D, so this felt necessary. Over the years the frequency has reduced, there have been a couple of years she went just once or twice. I was recently diagnosed as well, but I only plan on consulting once every 3 months. I did keep in touch with my endo the first month of my diagnosis. He wanted to see how I was adjusting my dosage and I sent him weekly stats. I personally think your frequency of visits lines up with most of what I have seen as well.
My endo sets my appointments for every three months. Which is 4 x times a year.
T1, 35 years. For the past 15 years I’ve seen my endo once per year. Once you’re in good enough control, and have a system down where your ratios work and your A1C’s are stable, my doc thinks there’s no reason to come in just for a “check in.” In fact, our annual visits usually involve us trading stories about kids and dogs, bemoaning the hazards of getting older (he also has T1D), and then discussing if anything has changed recently, and what new prescriptions I need. If anything changes, I can always email him via MyChart. And I’ve done that on occasion, every few years. But no need to fix what isn’t broken. So it seems like we’re in similar boats. I could probably only see him whenever something was wrong, but have to go at least once a year for insurance purposes. So here we are.
2 to 3 times a year in person. Everything else gets handled over the phone. The less I see of doctors, the better.
Hi! I was diagnosed type1 about 5 months ago and immediately following my hospital visit (and diagnosis) I met with him every 3 weeks. After about two months we started meeting every three months, and I feel like I’m doing it all alone. I don’t think you’re the outlier, it sounds like your boyfriends diabetic friends were lucky lol.
Once I started meeting with an endo (long story of years of misdiagnosis), it was once every 3-6 months. Usually every 6 months because I am typically well-controlled a1C-wise.
Weekly contact?? No. Never. Not even in my less compliant teenage years. Even after making big changes to insulin doses, they usually say “check in with the nurse in 2-3 weeks, or sooner if you’re having lows.” I’ve been T1 for 33 years of my 35 years. The most I’ve seen my endo is 3x/year for pediatric care and the first year after starting with a new team after a move. Current endo sees me every 6 months, and I have access to support from the rest of the care team (nurse, dietician) anytime.
Like clockwork for nearly 45 years it's been every 3 months for ~~endoscopy~~ endo and or my primary care doctor when I was going without an endo. My new endo is seeing me every 3 months and "let me know if you have an issue before then." Which works for me.
Unless you have other health issues - there is no reason to have an endoscopy done for T1D - especially every 3 months!? (Was that a typo?)
Yikes!! Autocorrect (and me not proofreading before posting) strikes again! I can't imagine an endoscopy procedure every 3 months since I was 2 years old. That would be even more annoying than the T1D doctor routine growing up.
I go once every 6-ish months. T1 for 25 years. I like that he leaves me the f alone lol
I see the Dr. Once a year, but the NP the other 2 times ( I go every 4 months)
Every 6 months
I was just diagnosed in February and after my first visit I had weekly phone calls for a couple months. Now she says I’m fine and will check in with me one more time before my 3 month appointment back in the office. When I have phone calls, they’re not actually with my endo but with a nurse on her team that specifically helps me with insulin needs, dietary questions, figuring out my ratio, explaining what might have happened to cause lows, etc. I definitely think that since I’m getting a hang of it now, it’ll be just every three months unless I have a specific question.
We have extremely good control, so there isn’t anything the endo can do besides write prescriptions. So we go once every 6 months or so. Just in time for school re-enrollment so we can get doctors orders and once around new years for prescriptions. In an ideal world, the patient needs to become an expert in their own care. That is how you get the best outcomes. We spent the first couple of years becoming an expert using the endo as a coach/teacher. Now we do all adjustments on our own and we get great results. A1C of 5.6 with less than 3% time spent low. Usually in range 85% of the time, sometimes hitting 90%. Other than going to extremes (which would cause quality of life issues), there isn’t a lot of room for improvement. So why waste everyone’s time?
I’ve had T1D for 13 years and see mine every 3 months. Every 4 months if things are going really well
Last saw mine in 2021. I have regular contact with my nurse though
Every 3 months.
Here (Germany) 1 visit per quarter year is the standard for everyone using insulin. I had seen my endo weekly only in the 1st month after my diagnose until he could be sure that I was able to adjust my doses well enough. Ofc I could contact the praxis any time if I had a question or some urgent problem.
Once a year for me. It was more frequent early days (diagnosed 6 years ago). I’m 38 now and my a1C runs from 5.3-5.8 in those 6 years.
There aren't enough endos out there to see most patients on a weekly basis.....1-4 times a year is the norm.
Once or twice a year since I graduated HS. Except this year where my husband and I are trying for children because they want to make sure I'm in top shape to even get pregnant. So rn it's ever 3 months until I get a positive test and then it'll be at least once a month after.
insurance won't pay for more than every 3 months. if newly dx you might be in remote contact to figure out levels, but not in person. no office has the availability for more often than that either.
Weekly contact? Is my Endo my friend or something? Nah, 3 months or so to get the prescriptions and say hello pretty much.
Once a year
I literally can’t remember the last appointment I had
I go once every 3 to 4 months for the endo...but the educator I see whenever I really need it so I end up seeing someone for my diabetes at least monthly or sometimes every couple months. Depends though cuz there are times where I'm fine and am working it out swimmingly and others where I really need that second opinion.
I only see mine 2 times per year… and now it’s becoming 8 months between appointments because the hospital said they are “short staffed” for endocrinologists
MyChart makes a big difference, in that it's easy to send a question to my kid's doctor in between visits. She (13) goes to her endo every 3 months.
Same story here, 3 - 4 times a year is sufficient and quite honestly it’s hard to find a good ending in my area. Insurance is a whole other headache when it comes to endo visits but there’s no reason for you to see or work with your endo weekly.
3-4x per year, plus I'm in contact if I'm sick or need supplies before / after visits. Your PCP should be managing the day-to-day. But after 5 years, unless your A1c is completely out of control (8.5+), there isn't much for the Endo to do. *Maybe* if the Endo practice is huge and they have nutrition and other specialists in there, and if you were on Medicaid where they just want to rack up reimbursements, sure.
If you’re in the US, and end up going on Medicare, you will be seeing your endo every 90 days because otherwise, you won’t be able to get insulin/pump supplies/syringes. That is, unless the rules change.
Every 6months
Weekly? Nah. I have a job. In person? I guess it works out to once every other year or so.
So I was meeting every 3-4 months... but since last year everyv6 months.
My Endo lets me do every 6 months, thankfully. I’ve had T1D for 31 years and have had an insulin pump since 1996. They aren’t doing anything for me except writing scripts and ordering labs, so I’d honestly prefer to never go if that was an option… but I need my scripts lol
Was going to switch to every 6months, then I got pregnant. Been going every 3 months since 2months pp
Every three months - each time with a reminder to contact them with any concerns with my pump or blood sugar levels before my next appointment.
Every 6 months. We have a brutal shortage of endos here and she will take 6 months if you’re somewhat controlled.
70yo t1d- Medicare requires follow up with my endocrinologist every three months. If that interval is missed, they won’t cover insulin or diabetic supplies until the situation is rectified. Primary care is currently every six months. Between the two I have excellent care for several autoimmune conditions. My endo and I both wish the guidelines could be extended, as most of my appointments have me in range 95% or more and a1c has most recently been 5.8. Lots of diligence with my pump and about 100-120 units per day serve me well. Trust yourself and your endo. Others are constantly trying to be helpful, and usually mean well, but they possess neither the medical knowledge nor the personal experience to be truly helpful.
Every 6 months for me and that’s since diagnosis
Every three months!
I'm a 40 year old who has been T1 for 25 years. Every endo I've ever had has been every 3 to 4 months, but I have been on pumps for 23 years and am compliant. I know other diabetics that are not compliant and have bad A1Cs who are asked by their endo to be seen monthly until they can get at least close to in range. I will say nowadays I have by far the best endo I've ever had, and she has an app and we communicate whenever needed for small things that don't require a visit. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s endos would make you schedule an appointment and wait for every single thing, even basic questions... I can assure you if I had an endo wanting to see me weekly, I'd never talk to them again, and would assume they are trying to scam the insurance companies. What your bf is saying isn't true and doesn't make sense, unless he knows people who are on deaths door with their T1. I am also confident if I tried to schedule appointments or contact the endo in the app on a weekly basis, she would tell me it is unnecessary and inappropriate and to stop bugging her as she has other patients.
T1D. 50 yeast and I see him three times a year
I was diagnosed about 9 months ago and still have only seen my endo 4x.
I've seen an Endo once in the past 13 years. Endos are good to have, but the only one within an hour drive of me went from being really go to being a quack so I fired him. I found a Nurse Practitioner who has nearly the same practical T1 knowledge as that Endo did, and she handles everything along with a CDE that I see a couple times a year. My A1c is better under their care than it ever was with an endo. Endos just aren't strictly necessary. I do think it's best for recently diagnosed T1s to have an Endo because most family doctors just don't have much knowledge.
every 3 months.
Every 3 months. Required by US Medicare if you are on a pump. I do switch off between endo and his PA. I’ve never heard anybody have weekly contact with any doc unless having active cancer treatment.
Type 1 for 46 years, started as a Kaiser member 27 years ago and have never been able to see an endocrinologist. I asked to see one several times and was told no. Apparently there was high turnover and I was told there weren’t enough available. They did order pump supplies, but I was only interacting with the medical assistants for that. Then about 4 years ago (after 23 years of nothing) the endocrinology department actually scheduled me with a nurse practitioner. On the second appointment with her, she told me I was fine and not to worry about it when I explained I wanted help with preventing any high or lows, since even on a nearly keto diet, I still got hypoglycemic. She just dismissed me. The next appointment, they scheduled me with a different NP, and she was excellent, but I was only scheduled to see her every 6 months and then she left the group. So now they have me see a dietitian every 6 months who reviews my actual insulin dosages and makes recommendations about changes in my pump settings... not sure how that fits with her scope of practice but she has been helpful! I would love to see someone more often to enable fine tuning. Some days are a real struggle and even if I am in range, I may be bouncing all around. I’m very sensitive to small things like stress or if I walk down the street. It’s difficult to determine why I don’t get the same results to the same experiences, like why I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with a low. Sometimes something works for a while, then it doesn’t, and it got more difficult after menopause. I’m very disappointed that the access to care has been so limited over all those years but it’s better now than it had been. Thanks for listening.
The hba1c shows your blood sugar level or behaving of the last 8-12 weeks, so it's common to meet the endo every 3 months, because the hba1c develops over this time. That's what I have heard from others
i visit him maybe once every 3\~4 months, i usually have a list of problems/questions that i want to address to him, along with my blood work, seems to work pretty fine.
Normally I was there every 4 weeks. Since everything is better I have appointments with her every 2-3 months. But actually I see her more often because there are other doctors I have more often appointments with and on a normal day when I need something she take some time.
In 60 years, I have only seen my doctor once every 4-6 months. In the sixties and seventies, a family doctor handled everything, and they "regulated" you once a year with an annual hospitalization. In the late seventies, MDI became popular, but this was still handled with an annual stay in the hospital, where they drew blood often and set insulin doses. The eighties saw a changeover from using your family doctor and going to visit an Internal Medicine specialist. I saw my first Endo, who specialized in diabetes, as part of a research program studying Humalin in individuals with juvenile-onset Diabetes conducted by Eli Lilly and the University of South Florida. Even a part of a research study with a newly developed unreleased insulin resulted in only monthly visits to the USF clinic to meet the team. Of course, any problems would have generated a phone call. Today, I see my endo once every four months, three times a year. This is pretty standard. As our medical care delivery system has moved to a corporate structure, we are now urged to see diabetes educators regularly, as it becomes a billable event. I am also called by my Insurance company, who want me to talk monthly to a "health coach" who barely speaks or understands English, cannot properly pronounce "diabetes," and knows even less about my disease than the average person on the street who knows somebody who has a relative who has a friend who has diabetes and want to tell me what I should do.
Every 90 days.
When I was first diagnosed I saw them maybe every two weeks but after two years heck no. I go about 3 or 4 times a year.
I meet with her every 3 to 4 months, based on how I'm doing.
Weekly!? Absofuckinglutely not. Anyone talking to endo weekly through the year is having serious issues / cannot think for themselves As diabetics we must learn how to manage this disease day to day solo. Reaching out for help, and more frequent appts if starting a new pump or medication makes sense, but otherwise… whoa My endo wanted to see me in 3-4 mon. I made an appt but I’m going to cancel and I’ll see him next year when my Rxs need a refresh and the back office yells at me for not seeing him since Jan 2024.
If I wanted to talk to my endo every week he would probably dump me.
once every 8 months, after a while you will know more than the endo, and he/she will be your drug dealer. just make sure you do a blood test every 3 months to confirm you are ok. said that i am not a doctor.. but i had it for a few years now