According to the majority of Americans with Type I & Type II Diabetes, finding an endocrinologist in their local area is extremely difficult. Even more difficult than the average American to find an endocrinologist, is the ability for children to find good diabetes care in their local area. For example, in Northwest Arkansas there are no endocrinologists who will see a patient with diabetes that are under the age of four. In order for a child that is under four with Type I Juvenile Diabetes to get appropriate care, they will have to travel the several hour drive the the Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Arkansas' capital city Little Rock. Not only is this inconvenient for the bi-yearly check-ups, if any emergency should arise, they will have to get to the Childrens Hospital as quickly as possible, or rely on local hospital care to communicate back and forth with the endocrinologist in Little Rock to try and serve the child. This is not the only place where these issues are found. Most children in America who do have Type I Juvenile Diabetes have to go to a Childrens Hospital to receive care. People over the age of four are able to find care with local Diabetes Physicians, however, most people when surveyed report unsatisfactory care from their endocrinologist. Is it because the endocrinologists are not up to date on the latest research done by the Juvenile Diabetes Association, or is it because the endocrinologists do not have the answers needed by most diabetes patients? Each patient reacts to food and insulin in different ways depending upon their bodies reaction to the medicine and what food the patient is intaking and whether or not diet and exercise are a major focus on their daily schedule.
