Doctors that think you don't know what you are doing with your diabetes

Community Share Your Stories
#1

I have been a diabetic for 27 years. what really bothers me is when you go to a doctor and you tell them things like make suggestions on insulin dosage or what you think is wrong with your own body, and they look at you like you are an idiot and don’t know what you are talking about because you don’t have the phd. It really makes me mad and makes me want to go tell them,
" look I am your boss, I pay you, I don’t care that you went to school for your phd, I know my body better than you do, and i have been diabetic longer than you have been in practice, so you listen to my suggestions and you will take them into consideration and you will work with me not tell me what i have to do. We are supposed to be a team and you make me feel like you are just a robot that doesnt care about what I have to say. and if thats the way its going to be then i will take myself elseware to find a doctor that will work with me and not just tell me that i dont know anything and not try to work with me."

I am angry about this doctor but there arent many choices where i live and its pretty sad that i will have to move to find a good doctor. Let me also add that there are no Endos in my area the closest one is a 3 hour drive away which can sometimes be imposible for me on a limited budget and have to go through canyons in very bad weather conditions. I have considered making the drive anyway as long as i only have to go every 3 months and seeing another doctor in my area for things in between. So on my search for a good doc i have to settle for someone who is not just in the diabetic area of experience. So that also limits how my dibetic care is handle.

thanks for reading
Arianne

#2

Arianne,

Sorry that you have had this type of experience. It just sucks when a professional cannot treat you as someone whose experience LIVING WITH THIS DISEASE has value to the treatment plan.

Whether you continue with this doc or not, you might want to sit down and calmly discuss what your expectations are. I like to write a list before I go to the doc since I know I will forget a few things that are important.

There were a couple of good posts over on Amy Tenderich’s Diabetes Mine site about “How to be a Good Patient” and “How to be a Good Endo”

Take a look and see if any of those ideas could help you.

Fair Winds,
Mike

#3

I feel for you:) It is really hard to find someone you really admire and can work with on managing your diabetes. Where do you live? When I lived back east I had a lot more choices…now in the Midwest I have switched docs several times. Saying how you feel about the situation is important…maybe once you confront him/her about how you feel…they will be more understanding…or, you will know it is time to switch to someone else. I have been frustrated enough that I have even considered traveling out of state 4x/yr to get better endo care. They can write scripts, etc. from a distance…only problem might be insurance coverage. Also would allow me to get in on better clinical trials. Just some thoughts. Good luck to you and have a great holiday season:)

#4

However long he spent studying for his qualifications (and diabetes will only have been a small proportion of that time) he doesn’t have anywhere near the experience of diabetes that you do, and especially YOUR diabetes. Hope you can get him working for you, instead of patronising and ignoring you.

#5

Thank you Mike for the article references. they were helpful. Patricia i live in Utah a very small town and there are other issues with the doctors in this area that i dont agree with. the one im seeing is new to the area, he specializes in adult diseases, so i thought he would be good, but i am changing my mind. No i havent talked to him about it yet but i plan on doing so next month on my next appointment. Thank you for the encouragement Alan and thank you everyone for the helpful advice. It is always nice to know that this comunity is here and knows what each other go through. and is there to help each other out.
Thanks so much
Arianne

#6

Hi Arianne! I think that it might be good to see the endo, even if you can go only once per year or once every 6 months. The endo can write instructions to your primary care doctor about what to do or what to check for (this is what my endo in the USA did).

A general practitioner definitely does not know enough about different insulin regimens to give you advice. They can’t know enough about all conditions. That’s why we need specialists as well.

If there is any way to get to the endo, then I highly recommend it.

Otherwise, the book “Using Insulin” by John Walsh has GREAT advice about how to adjust insulin doses. Of course it is best to do this with an endo or doctor, but this book provides great understanding of different options.

#7

Print out what you wrote here and read it to him on your next visit.

Terry

#8

Arianne:

Sorry to hear about your limited selection of endos. Where do you live? Is it possible to move to a more “endo populated” area and still get a good job? Not that that is the only recourse you have. But, if you’re like me, you absolutely hate driving/riding for 3 hours just to be held up in the DR’s office!! I think it sucks when DRs act superior to their patients. Yes, you’re right … afterall, WE pay their SALARIES!! I really like my endo clinic now. Although I don’t get to see the head honcho that I fell for, his female assistant is really nice and I think we will get along pretty good.

Good luck in your search for a new DR.

Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI
USA

#9
I don't care that you went to school for your phd

Maybe you should go to a medical doctor who has an MD...I don't think the PhD doctor is really the right one to diagnose and/or treat diseases.

#10

Is it possible to maybe visit every 6 months as it was stated below, however do phone consults in the quarters between? You could send your BS readings and any issues in an email ahead of time so the phone converstations would go well. Of course, this is assuming you are doing well and not having any major issues. But, maybe it’s a compromise worth looking into?