I was four at the time and all I remember is hearing my mom say, when I was getting married at age 21, was, “Well the Doctors were wrong - they said you wouldn’t live past age 6.” That probably wasn’t the best of bedside manners.
I was told when I was diagnosed (December 1983) that I needed to take care of myself but that by the time I was an adult there would be a cure for diabetes. So, nearly 27 years later, there is no cure. I would say to never tell a newly diagnosed diabetic, “There will be a cure in your lifetime.” There is treatment, but no cure. I would much rather have appreciated being told the truth, which is that there will be many advances which will help you with your diabetes.
I second that, Dennis!
Being diagnosed at age 6, I remember my parents getting the majority of the information. I still remember the “EDI” cartoon that they showed me that explained the basics (I wonder if that is still out there!). That was 21+yrs ago.
Today, I would put together some kind of flow chart type thing for what to do with different situations: i.e. high blood sugar (did you wash your hands? did you take your shot? are you running a fever? is it that lovely time of the month? etc…); low blood sugar; what doctors’ appointments need to be scheduled and how frequently… endo every 3-4months, eye dr every year, etc.
Hope this helps!
I really have never felt like the Dr.s bedside was any good when I was DX in 1985. and as others have said, they (the Dr.s) tell you things can be bad, but really dont always do much to help you make sure it wont be bad other than the general “you need to get better control of your sugars.” So heres my 2c for a DX infor sheet. Brilliant idea by the way. With my nurse would have had one of these sheets.
- DONT PANIC!
- Your going to learn more about your health than you ever wanted to know, but youll take better care that way.
- Complications can be avoided with near normal BGs and low BG fluctuations.
- YDMV, every one is different, some get complications some don’t, but don’t play Russian roulette with your health.
- BGs over 150mg/dl can do damage, shoot for under that.
- Diabetes management is hard. Extremely hard. Dont blame yourself for crazy numbers, as sometimes they just happen.
- Carbs = glucose, glucose = high BGs,
- insulin / meds / exercise (unless over 230mg/dl) = low BGs
- Live fast, die young doesn’t work. You’ll just end up screwed when you get older and have to deal with it.
- Just because your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin, doesn’t mean your liver stopped storing glucose.
- There are tons of people to talk to and lots of information available. Start with Tudiabetes.org.
- Management comes with information, information is a CGMS or finger sticks, please do them.
- Please do research for yourself as well as take your Dr.s advise. Diabetic solution, think like a pancreas, etc.
- Your not an orange or a pin cushion. There are lots of tools to make management easy, just ask about them.
- Over your life, Diabetes will cost you as much as having a child.
- Chocolate isnt good for treating lows, but fructose (fruit juice) is.
Thats all I can think of right now. I was DX in the 80s, so communication and bedside manner was hopefully worse then than it is now.