SweetLifeStories Diabetes Blog

There’s NOTHING more upsetting, more disappointing, more stress-producing to someone living with diabetes or another long-term health problem than finding out their doctor is simply not a supportive team member. And by “team member,” I mean these things–all of which are essential, in my opinion, to helping me live with the ups and downs of diabetes!–

ESSENTIAL PATIENT-DOCTOR FOUNDATIONS TO BEING ABLE TO LIVE HAPPILY AND WELL include:

   1- open communication

   2- good listening skills

   3- positive outlook

   4- collaboration and TEAMWORK at all times!

   5- problem-solving skills

   6- mutual sense of caring and respect

   7- the ability to share and exchange what you know about diabetes

   8- helpful connections to professionals who can make a difference in how you deal with diabetes

   9- mutual ability to set goals and work steadily to reach them

  10- HOPE . . . POSITIVITY . . . and a BELIEF THAT ALL THINGS GOOD ARE POSSIBLE!

Why am I so burned about these issues? I have spent the better part of four years working with an endocrinologist most people rave about–only to continue hitting my head against the wall, believing he’d indeed come to know me, value my experiences, help me live better with diabetes. Recently, I swallowed hard and talked to him about what I needed from him to do well. This took courage. Staying with him was my mistake; I assumed that, given enough time, he’d come to care about me and my struggles to maintain the best blood sugars possible. So I’ll admit it right now: I was wrong! Assumptions are almost always the breeding ground for miscommunication and differences.

Yesterday, two things happened that hit me smack in the face after nearly four years of struggling to connect with “one of the best endocrinologists” in my health care plan:  My doctor–overwhelmed by entering data into a system requiring computerized (versus paper-filled) medical records–asked me question after question that proved he didn’t remember much of anything about me and doesn’t regard me as a collaborator in how “we” try to manage my diabetes issues.

“So,” he started (50 minutes later than my scheduled appointment time), “your HA1C went up and you’re not in very good control.” No questions, no problem-solving. In fact, he was so focused on his system’s red tape accountability and his own personal problems, he didn’t even follow through on the fact that no one had downloaded information from my insulin pump or blood sugar machine. Sighing, no direct eye contact, entering the most basic information including, “How long have you had diabetes?” For this, I waited an hour?

The second glaring incident came after I went home following my appointment with Dr. T. My husband related that when he’d been contacted by the doctor on call regarding his sinus infection, it was my doc who called him back. Their exchange went something like this:  “Hello, this is Dr. T.”  “Oh,” my husband replied, “Hi, Dr. T. You treat my wife Kathy for diabetes.” The shocking undeniable proof of his response? “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe. I have so many patients. What’s your problem?”

For THIS I worked four years, hoping that I could help shape this “great” doc into someone who could make a difference both for me and others? His depressed and negative attitude may be symptoms of a system that is overwhelming all of our physicians. And he has been slammed with coming to terms with developing  his own diabetes (Type 2). But I can finally solidly say, THIS IS NO EXCUSE! Everyone living with serious health issues deserves better and should seek out the best possible team you can find. Each one of us deserves to be part of that team!

So I indeed feel like a fool–disappointed, saddened, a little hopeless right now. My doctor has committed the ultimate sin by not respecting and including me. I perhaps did the same–by trusting too much, waiting too long, not listening to the warning signs  because I feared seeking out a better partner from the great unknown. But my anger at myself for allowing this situation to fester is starting to work a magic of its own–empowering me to move forward and willfully take (and demand) a different–and more positive–path. We all deserve at least that.

B well, b happy, and live life to the fullest.

Until next time, kath

today– 1/1/11 –was such a lazy day. so c-c-cold here in the aftermath of arctic air sweeping down to the southwest, even my pup tess was curled up in front of the space heater. so i just took time to catch up on the computer, immersed myself in a good book, and picked up around the house. of course, lazing around makes me feel so guilty, what with not exercising or actively working on managing my blood sugars. but everyone needs to build in these cerebral quiet kind of days to reflect and move forward with new plans.

and those resolutions are definitely on my calendar:  3 new puppy training classes starting at the end of the week.  joining a local gym (a have-to, but all i can say about going there a few times a week is . . .  ”blech!”). and, if i don’t freeze to death while doing it, getting out to the local mountains to x-c ski in two days for the first time this winter!  i prepaid and thus obligated myself to 6-7 x-c and snowshoeing trips through february with a great group of people, so aside from whining about the possibility of freezing, i expect to have lots of fun and reap the benefits of getting outside during the worst of these cold winter months.

here’s hoping you’ve had a chance to plan out and make good on some health(y) resolutions, too! wishing a happy and healthy new year filled with ongoing zest for life’s passions to all my friends and family!

B well, be happy. Until next time, Kath

Sunday, Jan 10, 2010

Suddenly just around the bend from the holidays and roaring into the new year, more light is filling the sky. A touch more warmth in the air brings the hope of spring. There’s just something so magical about this time of year and its promise of new beginnings that I love! It gives me both hope and pleasure in the small promises and joys of living day-to-day. It may even be enough to tempt me to try using the new (to me) Minimed QuickSet in my pump which–those of you who are reading the blog may recall–gave me mega headaches and supersized blood sugars the last time I tried this type of set-up.

Went x-c skiing last Friday. Proved to myself that I could get out and do it after 7 years off skiis. But had a few bruising falls and killer-sore ankles, too! Thankfully, the aches and pains lessened over 24 hours. My blood sugars were great during the actual skiing; I got to eat anything I wanted and didn’t even have to take ANY insulin boluses while I was moving. That’s the miracle of this type of exercise mixed with Type I diabetes. On the other hand, the minute I finished and sat down in the bus for the trip back home, whoosh! Up jumped my blood sugar levels . . . and they stayed in the 180-low 200 range for a few hours. But the exercise inspired me enough to plan waking up early Monday morning to tackle an exercise class–something I stopped attending during the holiday pressure and madness.

Hooray, a new day dawns with new opportunity!