Endocrinologists & Diabetes Clinics

Diabetes care specifically

Most type 2 diabetes is managed by a GP without ever needing an endocrinologist. A referral typically comes in where blood sugar control is proving difficult despite standard treatment, where insulin therapy is being started or adjusted, for type 1 diabetes (usually specialist-managed from diagnosis), or where diabetes-related complications are developing. A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan alongside this referral opens Medicare-rebated access to a diabetes educator, dietitian and podiatrist as part of ongoing management.

Referral and Medicare

A GP referral lasts 12 months by default and is commonly written as an ongoing referral for conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease that need continued specialist input over years rather than a single course of treatment. Blood tests and imaging ordered as part of investigation are billed and rebated separately from the consultation.

The wider care team

Endocrinology conditions, particularly diabetes, are usually managed by a team rather than the endocrinologist alone: a credentialled diabetes educator for day-to-day management skills, a dietitian for nutrition, and a podiatrist for foot checks, all accessible with Medicare rebates through a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan — up to 5 individual allied health visits per calendar year shared across everyone on that plan, not 5 per provider.

What to bring

Bring your referral, a current medication list, and — for diabetes specifically — your recent blood glucose readings or continuous glucose monitor data if you track it, along with your most recent HbA1c result if you have it. For thyroid or other hormone concerns, bring previous blood test results so trends over time can be compared.

Questions worth asking

• What is my target range for this condition, and how are we tracking against it?
• Should I be seeing a dietitian, diabetes educator or podiatrist alongside this?
• What tests do you need, and how often?
• Are there any medication side effects I should watch for?
• How often should I be reviewed?