How independently do you prefer to manage diabetes?
Do you make most adjustments on your own? Do you appreciate or enjoy the help of family, friends, or your medical team?
If you’re the parent of a PWD, what are your struggles with your child’s growing (or future) independent management?
Share your thoughts on this topic in the discussion below, or write a blog about it and post the link below!
As many people know, I'm probably one of the most independent people in terms of management of my Type 1. My definition of a good doctor is one who writes my prescriptions and "doesn't bother me too much". Some of this is my personality: I'm pretty independent and like doing things on my own. Some of it is my history.I guessed that I had Diabetes and asked for a blood test to confirm it. Then 15 months in as a supposed Type 2, well managed on oral meds, my numbers started to go up and up. I was living in Guatemala at the time so I wasn't hopeful about too much professional help so I started to research and joined TuD and determined I was Type 1 (LADA). I did see an endo one time in Guatemala who confirmed I was a Type 1. After getting my labs she e-mailed me to take "1-3 units insulin before meals". I e-mailed back to ask about I:C ratio and she had gone on vacation. Her assistant couldn't figure out how to translate "I:C ratio" into Spanish. I read Using Insulin, got help from people on here and figured it out. So self-management became a habit.
I couldn't imagine having to ask someone or wait for an appointment to make dose changes which I do regularly. I do understand and respect people who have good endos (lucky you!) and rely on their support as a team. But unless something unexpected develops health-wise I'm good to go on my own. When something perplexes me I post it on here and always get a wealth of useful suggestions. That's just me.
Good topic. I don't do blogs,(write them or read them) but will be posting a thread on my upcoming anniversary with a topic about "D identity" that I hope many of you will participate in.
I agree with Zoe. I don't expect a lot out of my doc. I like her, she's nice and very supportive and says great stuff like "you don't have to lose any weight, you've got a lot of muscle..." but, on the few occasions I've had issues, the office takes couple of days to get back to me and if I find there's a problem, I usually fix it immediately, rather than call, play phone tag (I'm very busy at work too...), get in touch, wait to hear back, etc. I realize that if I "fall off the wagon" and have crappy numbers, she may not be as accomodating but, for now, as long as things go smoothly, she's as supportive as I need her to be? I'd have a hard time finding a doc credible if they acted as if their suggestions would work. You can't tell if it works until you test the sucker out!
Just tweaked my basal rateby setting up a new pattern on my pump. Medtronic and my endo/CDE/PP team have been very felpful. I am learning to rely on them more when I am having problems. But at my last appointment, my endo and my CDE admitted I do a better job of modifying the various rates than they do.
I prefer to be heavily involved in all the decisions around my diabetes, it is mine after all!
ha ha!
Independence & support . . . it's a crazy dance when you live with someone and share a kitchen, meals, holidays.
My son was 15 when I was diagnosed and I really wanted his support and understanding. He has been supportive in some ways. For example, if he is making dinner, he knows it must include a big salad. He seldom complains about the scarcity of crunchy snack foods in the house; still he goes rummaging in the cupboards, in search of chips, crackers--usually in vain.
On the other hand, I hoped that my son would act as my conscience--warning me off the occasional splurge. He doesn't, but rather savors when I indulge us in some take-out Chinese or bag of chips. There are nights when a batch of homemade kale chips doesn't satisfy his cravings (or mine for that matter).
What I've learned is that the diabetes is mine alone & I have to take responsibility for my choices.
I'm also an independent type. Only need my doctor for prescriptions & labs. Never had a medical team & hard for me to imagine medical professionals working in concert when they barely have time to glance at a chart during an appointment, or return a phone call.
I don't want or enjoy the help of family & friends. Other than my husband, none of them understand diabetes & I don't expect them to.
Hi Aimee! I guess at 8 she is still busy being a kid. even at 14 i remind jacob alot to test, it is like the precursor to dinners ready, jacob come test or i will bring his meter right to him. yes i spoil him, but he is responsible for testing for snacks and bolusing correctly on the occasions when i am not home, so he is moving forward but i am by no means pushing just knowing that he has forever to deal with this, i am happy to take as much burden away as i can for now and very gradually hand over the reigns in the years before college. i guess it is the same way you can't imagine vivian behind the wheel of a car or going off to college, but someday she will and she will independently manange her own care with the coaching and positive reinforcement from you. you are a great mom, don't rush it. hope all is well, amy
I'm very independent as almost everyone here knows. My daughter is now 23 years old and is a Type 1 since she was 11 and I've been guilty of teaching her my independance too. Yep we've both got it. Neither of us rely on the team or the drs or anyone much at all we do our own way. My dr told me years ago this was my diabetes and he didn't know how I felt and he would leave it up to me to tell him if something was wrong. (which I do) I told my daughter about the samething.
Like others, I manange independently making my own adjustments as needed. Regular doctor visits are to keep prescriptions renewed as well as monitor other health issues that aren't so easily monitored at home. As my wife does most of the shopping and cooking, she does (with my input) put together a meal plan for the week complete with carb counts something that I let her take over years ago . . . so maybe I'm not totaly independent.
I am totally independent my doctor lets me run the show told him I wanted the pump he wrote the RX. I figured out my basal rate my I:C programed the pump myself and after 2 weeks of being on it went in to see him he downloaded my pump and said looks great see you in 6 months. I can't take all the credit I had read Think Like a Pancreas several times before asking for the pump.