What is the difference between Diabetologist and Endocrinologist?

Find out the difference between Diabetologists and Endocrinologists in this article. Know how these specialists make our lives healthy!

MD Specializations

Both a Diabetologist and an Endocrinologist offer lucrative career growth as observed in the last decade. Know the career choices that a Diabetologist and an Endocrinologist can avail in the medical job market through this article. Find out how Diabetes has become one of the most common diseases amongst people of all age groups. In addition, know how endocrinologists specialize in endocrinology and treat all diseases that affect the endocrine organs. It is important to detect and treat diabetes during the onset of the disease. Find out the role of both diabetologist or an endocrinologist in the treatment of lifestyle diseases. Diabetes is one of the problems of endocrinology; endocrinologists can also offer treatment to diabetic patients.

Multiple other serious health issues that may affect diabetic patients are extreme obesity, heart disease, and even stroke. This makes it very essential for us to consult a physician or a doctor and stay regularly under check-up.  However, there are slight differences between Diabetologists and endocrinologists. Diabetologists refer to those physicians who treat only diabetic patients.

Diabetologist and Opportunities

A diabetologist is a physician who treats patients suffering from various diabetic issues. These physicians can work in either private or government hospitals, as per their interests as well as work experience. Several healthcare centres also hire the services of diabetologists. Those having adequate work experience as diabetologists can work independently as consultants.

Endocrinologist and Opportunities

Endocrinologists can work in various hospitals that have the facilities to treat various endocrinology problems. It has been seen that private hospitals have been paying the endocrinologists more than government hospitals. This would provide a valid argument to advise the endocrinologist to join a private hospital rather than a government one if they are looking for greener pastures. The various health care centres in the country are also a good option for endocrinologists to join, as they provide an ample number of patients who visit these healthcare centres for a checkup. The role of a private consultant is also very lucrative for endocrinologists, but it requires good work experience. The research field is also a viable option to work in for endocrinologists if they have an interest in discovering better methods of treatment.

Difference Between a Diabetologist and an Endocrinologist

Endocrinology is a rapidly expanding branch of internal medicine that covers the body's hormone action (endocrine system) and its pathophysiology in human endocrine clinical syndromes. The endocrine system includes the pancreas (the scattered islets of Langerhans where insulin, among other hormones, is produced), the pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, gonadal, and parathyroid glands as well as the neuroendocrine, renal, gastrointestinal, and other organ systems.

There is no clear-cut difference between an endocrinologist and a diabetologist: an endocrine doctor who mainly deals with the care of people affected by the endocrine disorder of the beta cells of the pancreatic islets, which are called diabetes mellitus, becomes a diabetologist. The endocrinologists treat patients with any kind of endocrinology-related problems, but Diabetologists treat only diabetic patients.

All diabetologists should acquire an MD degree in General Medicine if they want to practice. But Endocrinologists need to have a D.M. degree in Endocrinology. Even though both of them are physicians, their method of treatment is slightly different. Diabetologists are specialists who provide treatment to patients who are afflicted with early or severe stages of diabetes. In the case of endocrinologists, they do not treat diabetics specifically, but they provide treatment for the problems related to endocrinology as a whole in the patient's body.

Which Specialisation is better for a Career: Diabetologist or Endocrinologist

Find out the important aspects of both specialisations depending on the area in which you wish to become an expert: 

• Choose Diabetology if:

  • You want to enter practice sooner, as it normally takes around 6 to 7 years to complete the course and start practice. 
  • You’re passionate about diabetes care and lifestyle medicine. The high demand due to India’s diabetes epidemic is also one reason to go with this career option.
  • You are chasing opportunities in clinics, hospitals, and wellness centers. 

• Choose Endocrinology if:

  • You’re interested in a broader and deeper medical specialty as it deals with broad areas of the human body, such as thyroid, PCOS, infertility, growth disorders, and osteoporosis. 
  • You’re willing to invest more time in education as it takes around 9-10 years to be an expert in this specialisation.
  • You aim for a higher earning potential. The yearly package may touch 20-30 LPA for this specialisation.