I Totally agree with you Kelly. I had a cousin who done pretty much all the DR said. Her reward? She lost 2 legs and 8 fingers, had to have a kidney transplant before she was 35 and died of a heartattack at 47. according to the dr shehad at the fime she was in great control. Just saying.......................
If a Person is doing Good with the way they decide to control their Diabetes(and with decent test results), I think that with your "grim experience", yes....I think this would be blackmail of sorts.
If the Patient is non-compliant and not doing so Good, then I do not think of it as blackmail. With so many Diabetics in our world today, Drs.are actiually dropping non-compliant Patients because the Drs. feel that they are wasting their time while they could be saving some other Diabetic's Life who doesn't have the care of a Dr.
I have never had any of my medications refused by any of my Drs., even when I declined another medication for which I didn't think that I needed. I wouldn't put up with that.
But part of the problem is that "good" can be very different for the patient and Dr. I have had Drs tell me that they want my A1c above 7% because ACCORD said that was best. That is not "good" in my eyes. I have had Drs. tell me that my cholesterol should be very low, which I now know is "not good" for me.
Above 7%?? I obviously haven't read the ACCORD. Some People do tolerate blood sugars that are a bit above 7% but certainly not all PWD. Geez, from my Lab test results, I noticed that our A1c levels are supposed to be between 4.8 - 6.0 which I disagree with. Many Diabetics cannot safely stay in the lower zone. Heck, many cannot even get below 6.0, so this stresses them out and may even depress them which I think is wrong. PWD shouldn't be made to feel ashamed because they have a 6.8. Our bodies are NOT normal, so we shouldn't be expected to be forced into that normal tight range. Wonderful, if we are able to get to the 5.0 - 6.0 safely without a lot of stress and lows. I Well remember when the Drs. used to be Happy if we got a 7% or less before. It's not the vast majority of Drs. who write these rules up anyways.
As far as cholesterol, that is still up in the air as far as Drs. and Scientists are involved. My GP said I should be on a statin and my Endo said that I don't need a statin. It would be Nice if they'd all get together(Go To Meeting) and agree on these kind of important tests.
Hello Terrie:
So would what I described be "Blackmail" in your opinion? Have you had this strange experience yourself?
Stuart
I don't think you could legally call this blackmail. With the amount of people out there who are filing frivolous lawsuits against doctors I don't find it hard to believe that a lot of them take the CYA theory to extremes. But I would look for another doctor.
I actually had an endo. do something similar to me a few years back - I was seeing her for my type one, mentioned that I had an interest in finding out about the pump. Said doctor had me meet with her pump trainer - I found out after the first meeting with the pump trainer that my insurance would cover all but 10% of the pump (which would have been 1K out of pocket), which I could not afford. I nicely told the pump trainer that I couldn't afford it and that I would just have to stick with my MDI until I could afford it. The next visit I had I was once again set up with the pump trainer - during my stay with this practice I met with the actually endo once. Once. At any rate, I kept getting pressured to get a pump by the pump trainer or at least a CGM (which I still don't want - don't feel comfortable with it as of yet), and I kept asking for tweaks with my MDI (which I never got). After my third visit with the practice I got a letter notifying me that they were dropping me for being non-compliant. I had to scurry to find a local doctor who would be willing to write me a prescription for my insulin, as at the time all my scripts were up for renewal and the endos office was not willing to even write me one last script for insulin.
I was livid. There was no reason to label me as being non-compliant for not buying a piece of medical equipment that I could not afford at the time. I hate the some doctors can get away with stuff like this. Though, I do let anyone in the area who is looking for a new endo know about my experience with this group. I guess that is all I can do.
I did find a great new group, though. :) My new endo is more than happy to work with which ever method I feel comfortable with, and my A1c has been in the 6 range since I've been with the new group. I guess it worked out in the end!
I believe I answered both of your questions in my first post above Stuart.
"I have never had any of my medications refused by any of my Drs., even when I declined another medication for which I didn't think that I needed. I wouldn't put up with that".
I'm sure some Drs. may try this scheme but I haven't had such a Dr.
"Yes....I think this would be blackmail of sorts".
This would be a Terrible situation for a Patient. Whatever happened to 'Free Choice'?
Hello Terrie:
My apologies, I responded before reading carefully. My bad…
Stuart
Yep, been down this road. Very well known practice at a major diabetes clinic in Boston, Ma. Many, not all will play this game to generate more appts. then some people need. I tried statins but hated how I feel on them
Mass has changed since them but your limited to 10 syringes, basically 1 pack otc per month similar to Nh and you have to know exactly what you want, for some reaxon you can,t just give them one and say you need this. Not sure tis part is law or intentionalal inconvenience
Hello Tom
You presumed correctly. APologies for the delay…
5 years, is a “delay”? LOL!!! I would say so.