The misinformation I have received over just a small amount of time since my diagnosis is really amazing (not in a good way). I understand those (medical professionals) that don’t work with diabetes(specifically type 1) are not immersed in the in’s and out’s of the disease. However, you think they would have enough knowledge to direct you properly. I have been told many things to do and then instructed ( by type 1 specialist) that everything I was told to do was bass akwards. I had the feeling initially that my meal regime was strange; eating copious amounts of carbs and covering it with large amounts of insulin, seemed a bit strange. I put my trust in those working with me, as I had no real idea what to do. Now I’m not bashing the health care team who originally took me on because in truth they were really wonderful people, who were working with the knowledge they had ( they only worked with type 2’s). When I switched over to a type 1 clinic everything I learned prior was thrown out the window. The problem I’m faced with is figuring out why? Why is it that emergency doctors know little to nothing about diabetes, it was shown to me how obvious my blood work was, that any doctor could see the treatment that should have been given to me initially; though, this was not what happened. I have only been researching for a short tine frame and yet I feel that I have more knowledge then someone who spent years studying medicine. Again, I understand that not all Dr. Are specialist but when I’m told by my nurse that I must take control and know my A1C if anything (non diabetic related) were to lead me in the hospital, the Dr. would not know that stress/anxiety/pain, could show a “false” high reading that is understandable, how would they not know. Furthermore, I found it even more infuriating that when I was in the emergency after a high keytone reading on my meter, the emerg Dr. Scoffed at my “new fangled device” and told me that they don’t care about keytones but that I should only come if my blood sugar is high. This all after finding out I had a UTI, which proved that ny meter instructed me correctly. I then later found how important keytone tracking is, most importantly for sick days. I am not blaming an individual hospital or health care system because from what I can see, it seems to be a common trend across the board; regardless of country, state, province etc. I do want to know why this information; information that has been around for many years, is not taken in or taught properly to those who have there hands in keeping us well. I’m sure many people have their own conclusions on this and I’m quite sure I am not the first to rant on this topic. So, then I ask you who is reading this, what can I do to help pass the knowledge and understanding. Aside from telling those misinformed ( surely someone with a PHD in medicine is going to scoff at my attempts). I just want to help you, myself and others who are dealing with this or who in the future will have to deal with this; the ability for better informed medical professionals.
i was in the hospital once for something & my bg was high so i asked the nurse for KETOSTIX to test for ketones she said we don't do that anymore.i always carry some with me but had no more.iwas also told by a doctor to disconnect from the pump because i will have tests the next day.i gave him a long speech about t1. when will they learn about t1 & pump???!!!scary...
Shoshana, it is so scary to see that, that was your experience…It makes me even more motivated to do something about it. I am going into university september and am seriously thinking of changing my major, I’m just not sure aside from going in to some sort of bio chemical immunology based course, which will lead me in the right direction for diabetic research and awarness? I also was told a story of a pregnant friend who was told not to check her own blood sugar while in the delivery room because they “have there own meters for that”, even though they were checking less often…it just does not make any logical sense to me.
Most of us have minor and and some major anecdotes of how medical caregivers get t1 wrong. T1 is a uniquely self-managed disease which is tough in the beginning because you don't know enough to know when a doc is wrong or partly wrong. It isn't just the docs, it is also the assistants and front office folk. A common pitfall is the overlap between T1 and T2. This site has helped me more than any of my medical caregivers. Within a few years, you will learn the ins and outs of how your body works with t1 and you will only need a doc for the scrips.
Take my word for it -- they get T2 wrong just as often. The consequences are just less immediate and severe. Usually. Unless the hospital kitchen doesn't get the word . . .
my fear is not being understood by the general public & also by medical persons.
SCARY,,,,,ISN'T IT...
the ignorance is really scary- just about basic facts too! a lot happened to me also, which could have killed me initially... and this happens with lots of other diseases and emergencies too.. I guess the best we can do is to know more and to inform these people and hope that they will learn from it and change the next time.. hospitals have a lot of really bad diabetes management, and it's scary that that is where we have to go if we have a really high bg and ketones maybe.. no other choice really...
I forgot to add that I think all medical professionals need to be required to take refresher courses on current ways on how to treat diabetes etc. But if they're being given the wrong /outdated information then it won't help...
what I do if I think I have uti is do a home test first and then call my current gyn, they will test me and put me on an antibiotic right away even without the test if I have symptoms- this could avoid a catastrophe...
The average doctor or nurse gets just a day or two about diabetes in their schooling. So not only is what they know about management hopelessly superficial, it's also "frozen" at that point in time. So, if they've been out of school for any length of time, they're hopelessly out of date.
You can always find exceptions, and they're the keepers. But that's what they are, unfortunately -- exceptions.
David, I didn't mean to say it was strictly a type 1 issue (I hope it didn't come off that way), I was just speaking from my personal accounts. I can only imagine what else they are ill informed about. I'm starting to get the idea that; unless we somehow change the "system" and/or the way things are taught, it is going to come down to a personal quest to inform as many people as possible. I've thankfully found some exceptions, and I know I am very fortunate to have them, because I know it is not the case for some or many. Meee, they should have to take some sort of refresher course, especially when they still beleive that people fit into a diabetic categorie as either type 1 ( which they seem to think is only reserved for those under the age of 18)and type 2 ( which requires you to be obese or overweight and sedetary). I didn't realize there was a home test for uti's, what are they called, is it like a dip/pee stick?
Not at all, I was just expanding the scope of the discussion a little to point out how universal the problem really is. And the whole issue of superficial (and therefore wrong) diagnosis is a recurring discussion theme here. Unfortunately no one has yet found the silver bullet to fix it.
i can clearly relate to this, once my son was in the er for a stomach bug with ketones and the doc told me we all carry ketones when we have the gi bug luckily he went off shift and a better doc came on but if i wasnt there to manage his lows during this trip god knows what could of happened they clearly had no clue... so now i know this it is sad to think you put your hands in the medical professionals and you and your loved ones are safe, so not true for those with and without D, dont know what the answer is but to be vigilant of yourself, educate your family and medical professionals that show interest..... i work at a cardiology office and the docs there thought once jacob got a pump it was like an artificial pancreas put it on and forget about it, even now i hesitate to bring anything up infront of the docs at work nice people but to self absorbed to really care so i get the best support here thanks all! the best therapy for dealing with a chronic condition is being HEARD and understand. thank goodness we have this forum to get that!
"Put it on and forget about it . . . " And these are doctors talking? Oh my, don't even know where to begin . . . gulp.
"Put it on and forget about it . . . " omg.. I wish :( they must be thinking of a pacemaker, lol...
CA... it is hard to believe that that is "still" what most medical professionals believe! You can get those the Azo test strips in drugstores, kmart, walmart etc. I always have some on hand because uti can quickly land us in the hospital if untreated. I agree we have to educate as many people as possible. I find myself telling random people what happened to me and telling them what to do if they ever have the symptoms I was having before dka.
Thanks, Jacobs mom. I will be sure to take charge now, especially when it comes to my Diabetes.
Meee, thanks for the info, ill be looking for those strips now. Hoping they have them here in canada, if i cant find them at stores at least i have the name of them so i can ask my health care team.
David, I hope I can find that silver bullet, wishful thinking im sure, but regardless, i plan to try.