Many people know the importance of scheduling their general yearly visits with their core health providers—the primary care physician, the dentist, the optometrist, and the gynecologist. However, have you ever experienced a mysterious symptom that left your doctor baffled? Maybe they sent you home, but you still felt that there was something wrong. Have you ever felt that your doctor wasn’t fully addressing your needs as a patient?
Many of us have experienced this, and it’s no surprise that we have. As a community, we are all too familiar with the feelings of medical neglect, discrimination, and misdiagnosis. So, what can you do when your doctor isn’t fully meeting your needs? Visiting a specialist could be a potential solution.
The type of specialist you need will depend on your condition, but there are a few that could help with common symptoms. Have you ever had a consultation with a dietitian? What about a podiatrist or endocrinologist? These three providers specialize in the areas of nutrition, foot health, and hormones, respectively.
Although you may feel that a visit with these specialists are unwarranted, they could actually be more beneficial than you think. Scheduling appointments with a dietician, a podiatrist, and an endocrinologist could shed some new light on existing or potential health conditions.
RELATED: 5 Easy Ways to DASH Your Diet to Improve Heart Health
Why Should I see a Dietitian?
A dietitian uses their expertise in food and nutrition to help their clients achieve their health and wellness goals. They work in various environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and government agencies, but they also work in privately owned practices, working with individual patients more closely.
As the Black community continues to be disproportionately affected by high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, it’s more important than ever to address our eating habits. Interested yet? Check out these Black dietitians who are making space for us. Before you make any commitments, make sure your dietitian is registered, which indicates that they’ve completed the appropriate educational requirements.
Diabetes and Your Feet: What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You
How Can a Podiatrist Help Me On My Health Journey?
Proper foot care is an often overlooked area when it comes to health. Aches, pains, and changes in the skin that are often dismissed can actually be indicative of more concerning issues. As previously mentioned, Blacks are affected at higher rates by diabetes, which often affects foot health. If left untreated, the disease could lead to nerve damage in the foot and even amputations.
In addition to providing foot screenings, a podiatrist can provide helpful tips on how to keep your feet healthy year-round. Additionally, they