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Permalink Reply by NatalieHodge on May 15, 2012 at 6:29am

We don't exactly " work together". More competitors in our community, really, I do all outpatient, some disruptive healthcare, mobile app diagnostic development, advise m health Startups,  corporate wellness,  whereas he has traditional practice... But he could hurt my reputation for sure... 

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Permalink Reply by MyBustedPancreas on May 15, 2012 at 5:51am

Sometimes, if I'm in a snarky mood, I'll ask someone where they obtained their degree in endocrinology. That usually shuts them up. If I'm feeling a little more patient, I will try to explain to them what I'm doing and why I have to do it. For example, in the situation you describe, I would explain what could happen if the amount of carbs is miscalculated. And how, back in the days before we did carb counting, BGs would swing wildly from highs and lows, thereby leading to really bad complications later in life. I would explain how what you're doing now is helping your daughter not only feel better in the moment (because her BGs are more stable) but also helping ensure she stays healthy for the long haul.

Just because he's a doctor means nothing. I have actually encountered more ignorance among medical professionals (who are largely accustomed to seeing and treating T2 diabetes) than I have in the general public. And this really, really scares me. I have a friend who is a GP and she frequently asks ME questions about dealing with patients who have diabetes. She explained that in med school there is very little attention devoted to diabetes in general, and even then most of it focuses on T2 diabetes. Unless a doc or medical professional is an endocrinologist, I pretty much expect they know next to nothing about T1.

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Permalink Reply by NatalieHodge on May 15, 2012 at 6:49am

Ha ha!  Even the one endocrinology here thinks " people are too stupid to use pumps" yes, I did try to explain calorie king on the iPhone and how it helps and use the calculator for the occasional math problem to calculate for example how much Gatorade carb we have,  he was just yelling at me saying "you are trying to make way too big of a deal of this" and even mentioned another local family saying " they dont make a big deal out of diabetes, he is 14 and not at all around at these events, he's a tennis player... And they started the whole jdrf walk and are huge advocates, trained in dc recently for advocacy, etc...
The more I think about it now, the histrionic kid probably has had a hard time having attention drawn away from her when the group is together... Makes a little sense now... All of the other families (and children) in our group have been incredibly kind and thoughtful, inquisitive, yet caring, and many medical parents too 

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Permalink Reply by MyBustedPancreas on May 15, 2012 at 1:15pm

Wow, is the endocrinologist aware that an insulin pump is about as sophisticated as a cell phone from 1998? Seriously, they are not that complicated. Children operate their own pumps all the time. It's just a more accurate way to dose insulin. If you can do basic math, you can operate an insulin pump! My iPhone is WAY more complex.

When I wasn't "making a bit deal" of my diabetes (i.e., NOT using my iPhone to count my carbs and still on MDI), my A1C was frequently up in the 9% range. It's down now, but I know what an A1C of 9% means for my future. The DCCT proved this back in 1992.

When I hear such stories of physicians saying incredibly stupid things, it makes me cringe. I have faced off with several before and it has usually resulted in me walking out of the office. I even had one physician tell me (after seeing that I wrote down "type 1 diabetes" on my intake form), "You're not overweight. How did you get diabetes?" I seriously could have punched the guy. Now, once I patiently explained the etiology of type 1 diabetes, he backed down and did seem a tad embarrassed. But it was still scary.

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Permalink Reply by Doris D on May 16, 2012 at 7:10am

Now that line is good mybustedpancres. I should have thought ofthat ! LOL! I will ask my hubby the next time he decideds he's the DR if he has his dergee in ENDO!!! Thanks! LOVE IT!!

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Permalink Reply by Brunetta on May 16, 2012 at 7:41am

True, true. Most medical professionals, other than my endos and internist, know next to nothing about type one diabetes.
God bless,
Brunetta

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Permalink Reply by Jacob's mom on May 15, 2012 at 6:41am

Hi natalie, so sorry this guy was so rude. it is so hard to respond to those situations and in hindsite you craft better responses or more evil ones! i would consider the source he is obviously not a nice person, but something like 'you would probably feel very different about this if your child was affected' i would like to say 'empathy works better from adults and from her classmates, kennedy and i have had a rough stretch with this with many more years to go" look in the eye and walk away strong! to bad his daughter is being so mean girls can be so cruel sometimes.. i really feel if spirituality, self awareness and kindness were taught to kids starting in kindergartin the world would be a better place and we would all function better as adults! best of luck! amy

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Permalink Reply by smileandnod on May 15, 2012 at 6:47am

I'm not a confrontational type person so I would probably just state "I'm doing what I feel is best for my child." Period. And I would just repeat as needed if the tirade continues. I've learned over the years that you're not going to change the mindset of someone like that so why waste the energy and emotions trying.

As someone once told me "you can't cure stupid". While this physician may be quite intelligent, he's still quite ignorant.

Best wishes to you and Kennedy! I'm sorry you had to deal with this guy. My daughter danced for 15 years and I was always with her at events (because I enjoyed watching her dance) as were many other parents... but some of those parents were so obnoxious. Don't let it get you down. You're doing a fantastic job for Kennedy. :)

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Permalink Reply by NatalieHodge on May 15, 2012 at 6:52am

Ha ha! Yea, I really wish I had recorded to send to the peoria shooting "dance moms" it would blow away the episodes on the show!! 

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Permalink Reply by drmom777 on May 15, 2012 at 7:02am

This guy sounds like an absolute idiot. I don't know what the guy is thinking. I am also in the medical community, working with physicians who are not endocrinologists (psychiatrists), and I calculate carbs on my iphone too. It really is dreadfully cumbersome, and it means I sit there forever trying to figure out the pump bolus while everyone I'm with either starts eating or waits....awkward either way. But no one has ever been anything but totally supportive.

I wonder what is going on in this guy's head. Frankly his behavior sounds too bizarre and intrusive for even a rude normal person. There is most likely something else going on.

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Permalink Reply by NatalieHodge on May 15, 2012 at 12:34pm

Yes, I think you are right, the way he reacted to what I said about trying to understand why he was so angry with " don't try to pull that psychology crap on me" and then later " don't you try to tell me my family is screwed up' gave way to thinking that he has control issues, and possibly leading to other psychological and ?? even physical abuse at home... not my problem... but will keep a close eye on how he interacts with my family...

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Permalink Reply by garidan on May 15, 2012 at 1:08pm

Yes, I think he is dangerous, and could bring his son to be as much.
You can't cure or change him. Your first thought has to be your kid.
Be "lower profile" but not too much: he has to fear you (he looks to fear your judgement already) but not feel in danger, otherwise he could react.
Keep a distance to him and his son, as far as you and your kid can.

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