Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bernard on January 25, 2008 at 8:48am

I've been blessed with good doctors, so I've not experienced this.

In fact at least two of them have said to me my risks of complications are lower because I've had diabetes for 35 years with essentially no complications. I hope that remains true, I've a few more years to go!

Permalink Reply by Susana on January 27, 2008 at 8:05am

I get that reaction when I tell them I have D. Sometimes, I heard things like "You don't look like having D" (what do they think, we have some kind of mark on our faces???). Ok, I'm a doctor too so I understand we don't have good training on D (especially Type 1) but I hate when I explain things and they don't believe in me, like carb counting (yes, I can eat that!!!)

Permalink Reply by araby62 (a.k.a. Kathy) on January 28, 2008 at 8:29pm

Generally no, but I've gone to the same PCP and eye doctors for 13 years. I met a couple of new ones for other reasons last year; their response was actually pretty cool (both complimented me on my good health/control for so long). But I do agree that 99% of people think adults somehow don't get T1. I work in public health and they seem to think it's only for kids. *Sigh* We do grow up...

Permalink Reply by Michelle on February 18, 2008 at 9:07pm

I haven't gotten a shocked look, but what I have gotten are comments stating that after having diabetes so long, there is no excuse for anything but perfect control. Sure, after so long it gets easier to deal with, but that doesn't always mean easier to control... Besides, I'm human and make mistakes occasionally.

Permalink Reply by Dean Phillips on March 9, 2008 at 11:10am

That is clearly what people don't seem to understand about this. It is a daily battle. If I expected perfect control I would just be setting myself up for disappointment on a daily basis. I believe the reason I am so healthy otherwise is I don't let the highs and lows get me down, mentally speaking. There are plenty of "WTF" moments in dealing with D, sometimes it just sneaks up on you.

Part of the reason I quit keeping a daily log was because no one has ever convinced me it made sense. Does anyone really live two identical days of their life. I would log days and then the Dr would want to address this high or this low and my reaction would be "well that day had this going on, or this emergency happened". So what is the use of comparing different days, stresses, meals, experiences and trying to come up with a plan that will work for all situations? Seems a bit unrealistic to me.

Permalink Reply by Dennis on December 20, 2011 at 8:57pm

yeah Dean Know where your comming from on keep a Log
Butt, I don't keep it for these Dr.'s.. They can Down load the meter if they want to Waste time over #'s..

I use it for Reference.. What Does to take the Next time in those Previous #'s that Worked..

Ever since? Ave 6% A1c's

I also used to Teach all the Interns and Fellows and Endo's that I meet at my VA Endo App'ts and then They have the Nerve to Charge Me for it! I pay a $50 Co pay

I stopped doing that, As soon as I walk in the office and see them waiting there? I clam up , open my File Folder, show them my Logs and Let them Sit there and read them

IF you want me to Teach you? Don't charge me for this Visit!

9/10x none of these VA Visits has done anything for my D.. Done it ALL on my own with Books, None of them ever read..

Permalink Reply by Dean Phillips on March 9, 2008 at 11:01am

What I have heard most is that if I didn't have D I would be perfectly healthy. What really bothers me is doctors who don't listen. I have been at this for 25 years now and have been treated as if I don't know what I'm doing. DUH!! The last Dr I had just rambled on about this or that, not even engaging me, more like lecturing. I just ended up tuning him out, and then its just more of a "give me my damn perscription so I can leave" visit for me. I was glad to dump him.

The shocked look is my favorite along with the "you don't look like you have D". Whatever that is supposed to look like.

Permalink Reply by Tracy on March 18, 2008 at 10:18am

I feel the same way! I had to go to diabetes training (as requested by my endo - in order to show I test regularly to keep my drivers' licence) and the nurses and dieticians tried to convince me that, with their training, they knew about diabetes better than I did. I said, "I have had diabetes for twenty-three (going on twenty-four) years. I live it every moment of my life. I struggle with it everyday. I do research on it to keep myself informed . . . I've done this for twenty -three years. How long have you studied diabetes? Did you go to university for a few years and read about the disease in some books? It's very different when you LIVE it. There are parts of this disease you will never know!" The diabetes nurse looked pretty shocked when I said that. She didn't try to give me any more advice.
When I saw the dietician, it wasn't much better. She looked at my food log and told me that I should try to eat more vegetables (me, a vegetarian). She said I should cut down on the carbs. Her lunch was sitting on the desk. She had a foot-long sub (maybe meatball or pizza) and a bag of chips with a pop. I told her that any person should eat how a person with diabetes is requested to eat - ANY person (motioning to her lunch). She didn't say much else.
I hate having people tell me how my diabetes is supposed to be, without having any knowledge of how the disease works - I mean, really works.

Permalink Reply by iroseland on April 7, 2008 at 7:25am

wow,

great topic. I have been type one for 27 years now. From the age of 19 to 29 I had no insurance and so no Dr's to mess with me. To get by I was creative and careful. The goal was to never end up in the ER for anything, especially since that would have financially crushed me. Back in college I got mono, I finally made it to the clinic at school as it was clearing up. I could not really move before that. After two weeks of not eating and most of it spent not awake. I finally had a normal sized morning dose and a load of peppermint ice cream. So, I had trace ketone's from the weight loss, by the time I got to the clinic my blood sugar was in the 300's and I looked like ass, ( two weeks with Mono ) the Dr there freaked out about my numbers and claimed that I was going into DKA and had campus security haul me over to the emergency room across the street from the school. There I could actually feel the virus finally lose the rest of the way, then I got a smoking lecture from an intern, and finally looked at the labs that came with me. My PH was normal. The trip cost 1800$ and I learned that some folks don't know how to read labs.
When I finally got insurance I found a GP and went in. I had failed to mention that I was type one over the phone. In fact I had failed to mention it at all till we got to the near end of the appointment. When I told her she just looked at me, looked at her notes and said " Are you sure? " I showed her the insulin and she went back over me with a fine tooth comb. She then told me I must see an Endo asap, and that I had been either very luck or very good. I finally got to the endo6 years later. I chose the one I have mostly because he didn't need a referral and more importantly didn't freak out when I said the last time I saw one was 1988. He has actually been pretty good, I mostly get lectures about my weight and cholesterol. 8^P

Ivan!

Permalink Reply by Dean Phillips on April 10, 2008 at 6:31pm

Exactly!! I once was out with some friends after a long day of skiing. Well a body in motion stays in motion I have found out. After exerting myself all day, it was far too easy to take too much insulin, and that with a pump. The alcohol didn't help. After eating I started to get low. I kept telling my friends that I just needed time and soda but they freaked out and called the ambulance. I remember telling the ambulance guys about the pump and they asked me to turn it off. I kept telling them I didn't want to go to the hospital, didn't need a huge bill. Well their policy was to take me in anyway. I was observed in the ER for about an hour and a half before they let me leave. When I got back to the hotel room, I still had a 67 BS. I ended up with a 1200$ bill for basically nothing I needed, they didn't really do a thing for me. That was quite frustrating. I considered making my friends pay the bill but didn't want to start that arguement.

Permalink Reply by Dean Phillips on April 10, 2008 at 6:33pm

By the way. It is really nice to bitch about this stuff, even though it is history, with others who understand. Thanks to all of you for reading and replying!!!

Permalink Reply by Sarah on April 30, 2008 at 9:06am

I've experienced the worst reactions/misconceptions from pregnancy related health professionals. "Yes, I've had diabetes for years before this pregnancy and yes, I will continue to have diabetes after this baby is born. I know how to handle diabetes and this pregnancy is not going to suddenly make me stupid on how to handle diabetes. Insulin resistence will happen as the pregnancy progresses, but I will still know how to handle diabetes!"

I think since OB's deal with gestinational diabetics who don't know the disease, they handle every diabetic like they were diagnosed yesterday! FRUSTRATING!

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