If you don't have a primary care doctor or are not comfortable with the one you have now, it may be time to find a new doctor. The National Institutes of Health suggests these steps to help you find the right doctor for you:

• Decide what you want in a doctor - including considerations such as training and certifications and what hospital(s) he or she is associated with. Do you want a doctor who is part of a group so that you can see someone else when your doctor is not available?
• Identify several possibilities - Ask friends, relatives and other health professionals for the names of doctors with whom they have had good experiences.
• Learn more about each doctor and his/her office policies --- Is the doctor taking new patients? Find out how far in advance you will have to make an appointment, the times when your doctor sees patients, how long an appointment usually lasts, how available the doctor is via telephone. What are the payment procedures? You may want to set up an appointment to interview a doctor (you will probably be charged for such a visit).
• Is the doctor's office convenient for you – Is parking available nearby? What is the cost? Is the office on a bus or subway line?
• Pay attention to the staff - these are the people you will be dealing with.

Most important, choose a doctor you feel comfortable with and with whom you will be able to communicate well.

Even though you may have a specialist who treats your diabetes, it's important to choose a primary care doctor who is familiar with the disease and current thinking about its management.

Related information Questions to ask your doctors

Source:  National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. Talking with your doctor. September 2000.