The United States has a severe shortage of pediatric endocrinologists, making access to these specialists difficult or, in some cases, impossible.12 Vast geo- graphic areas lack a pediatric endo- crinologist: in 2011, 3 states had no pediatric endocrinologists, and 22 had fewer than 10, and the situation is un- likely to improve in the near future.13 In 2004, the National Association of Child- ren’s Hospitals and Related Institutions performed a workforce survey and found that patients had to wait almost 9 weeks for an appointment to see an endocrinologist.14 Because the number of patients with T1DM and T2DM has increased since then, this situation is presumably worse today. Regardless of their age, most patients in the United States who have T2DM are cared for by primary care providers (PCPs).15 Furthermore, given the expected in- creases in the national and global inci- dence of T2DM and the near impossibility that the pediatric endocrine workforce will increase proportionately, PCPs must be prepared for and capable of managing children and adolescents who have un- complicated T2DM.
Numerous experts have argued that the ideal care of a child with T2DM is provided through a team approach, with care shared among a pediatric endocrinologist, diabetes nurse edu- cator, nutritionist, and behavioral spe- cialist.16–18 In areas of limited access to pediatric endocrinologists, however, contact with the pediatric endocri- nology team might involve contact at diagnosis for initial diabetes educa- tion and intermittently thereafter; annually, with interval care by a PCP and interval communication with the pediatric endocrinology team; or at every visit, for those patients who are either doing poorly or are taking insulin.
In areas where access to subspecialists is hampered by geographic distances and/or professional shortages, care provided by local generalists who are skilled in treating children and youth with T2DM is likely to improve access to medical care. Although there are no pediatric studies evaluating this issue, the committee believes that this im- proved access to care might result in: