I am not surprised by this report at all. The longer I have diabetes and consult with the so called “experts,” the endocrinologists, the more I realize that my skill at insulin dosing is rare.
Combined with the fact that I am not a doctor, I expect major conflict with any hospital that cares for me. I would hope that my endo would back me up but I can’t be sure of that until it happens. Perhaps I need to have a heart-to-heart with her.
My stance is that as long as I have cognitive, visual, and dextrous ability, I need to be the one making all the decisions and treatment with insulin. I would hope that hospital nurses and doctors would support this set-up but I fear that professional pride and willful ignorance may present major roadblocks.
I’ve heard more than one nurse at day-surgery comment that they like to run their diabteics “sweet.” They even have a name for this – permissive hyperglycemia! They have no idea how dangerous this euphemism can be. Studies have shown that rates of infection and mortality as well as the length of hospital stay are adversely affected by hyperglycemia.
Improving this social health care malady will take a sustained effort from many quarters, including informed patients and diabetes advocate agencies. I think we should each prepare for this contingency.