18 Comments

  1. U words read like the beginning of my life with T1D. Its all good telling us about complications if we don’t handle it properly but how about showing us how to control it. That support was missing for me too and most likely a lot of other people, I have learnt more from experimenting and other T1Ds than I have the medical profession. Thanks for the read Frank.

  2. This post worries me about coming back to the UK! I haven’t really thought too much about the way diabetes is dealt with over there, here I’m so lucky – even though I’m not a resident I get to see my diabetes nurse for free whenever she’s in town (she’s here every 1/2 weeks), and she’ll always write me a script for whatever I need and more. She’s also really nice!! At least you had a nice diabetes educator, I couldn’t imagine taking shit from all of the healthcare professionals!

  3. Fortunately I have never had a health care professional be that callous with me but I know that they are out there. I suppose that I am lucky that I always see the same doctor for my diabetes. At the same time maybe there is a benefit of having a different set of eyes look at our charts occasionally. Whatever. Most of what I have learned about diabetes I have learned from books and from the diabetes online community. One nice thing about the DOC is that if anyone is mean to you, lots of people will have your back and send virtual hugs:-)

    • That’s very true. We are often our best resource for learning. I can’t really complain because the Endo appts cost me next to nothing, but sadly a private one would be costly.

  4. sysymorales

    For about 10 years that’s what I got out of the same two endos, I’m afraid, and I live in the US (I think the problem where I live is the doctor has about 5-7 minutes for each patient) But, I think in most cases being able to get to know one’s doctor should help immensely. It feels utterly soul crushing to have someone minimize the way that we are tackling staying alive with an impossible disease! I mean that’s essentially what we are doing and then they look at some numbers and exclude all the other bits. It drives me insane! I see it as a larger problem with our medical system. They aren’t trained to understand the mental component of diabetes which I think is a huge aspect of our life with this. Anyway, great post. I’m glad you had a diabetes educator in your corner 🙂

    • Thanks so much for sharing that! I wish at the time I’d had more confidence to stick up for myself. I’m sorry to hear that you went through the same thing, I hope you have ditched that Endo.

  5. Wow these are some really interesting insights into public medicine. I suppose I can consider myself lucky to see the same doctor every time. Like you said though, they just need a bit more understanding. I don’t understand these doctors that try to scare us all the time. Sorry you went through that. Endo’s should just always be nice. We deal with enough. 🙂

  6. […] after I walked out of a less-than-supportive endocrinologist appointment on the verge of tears (which you can read more about here). She always made time for me if I needed it – I can even remember her once squeezing me […]

  7. […] I have struggled to place my trust in endocrinologists over the years. Trust that I can comfortably pour my heart and complete honesty on the table. Trust that I’ll receive total support and complete understanding in return. Trust that any and every judgement will be reserved. And trust that I won’t walk out feeling fragile and disheartened once again (you can read about that here). […]

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