Your doctor visit

Type 1 and LADA
1

Your doctor visit.

Some think to be a good patient means to let the doctor make all the decision for you,
not making any demands on your doctor and God forbid, complaining?
Follow his orders even when you don’t understand them?

When having diabetes you and your doctor should be partners in making the decisions taken and really you are having a share in there of 75% at least. So, there has to be trust and understanding between the two of you to start with.

So if you play the “good patient” you may even have to put up with rude or condescending treatment and for what I hear on the boards, this happens often. Don’t be passive to keep the doctor happy, you have to actively participate in what is discussed and ask questions if you don’t understand something.

Your doctor is just a human being who can forget even what he called you in for. He will appreciate your help if he is any good at his work. He/She must be someone you can trust and can talk to or find another doctor. I travel two hours to get to an urologist I trust while there are two here in town that I like to pass by.

Educate yourself by reading the postings on these boards and read books and diabetes magazines. You will be better to carry out your share of your treatment plan if you understand the reasons for it. So keep records of how you feel, your blood sugar test, doctor visits in short, you give your doctor something to understand your situation better.

Improving your health is a lot more important than pleasing your doctor. If he suggest something you already know doesn’t work, tell him so. And while you don’t want to be a pest, get a hold of him/her when you feel bad and don’t let the receptionist keep you at bay. Know what tests you should be getting and what specialists you should see and tell him so. Doctors see so many patients and may just simply forget about it.

Be an active participant during your appointment. Think beforehand about whether you have any questions, concerns or problems to discuss, and if so write them down. Bring a list of all your medications and blood pressure averages.
Be upfront with your doctor about your fears about how things are going, if needed.

All this may not always be easy to achieve I know, I have been with real asses of doctors and left them as soon as I could.
But finally I got somewhere, and so can you! There are good ones also, you know!

JB. done March 15 2008

2

Dealing with docs is such a huge part of our db management. I have had docs with good bedside manner who knew nothing about db and never ordered the right tests. Then I’ve had docs were were condescending and downright mean but kept up on everything. Hard to fine a balance.
My insurance only lets me see an endo once per year, and the other 3 visits are with my primary care internist. He is okay, but not super proactive. He will usually order a test if I ask for it, like last time I asked for vitamn D levels. The clinic system has a checklist for type 1 patients and he never goes outside the guidelines. I have gained some significant weight in the last year and asked if he could refer me to a nutritionist. He said, “I didn’t mention it because most patients get very defensive, but, yes, I think it’d be a great idea - I know someone who would be perfect for your situation”.
I feel that we have to constantly be on our toes, and be our own advocate. It takes extra energy, but it’s worth it. Recently when I scheduled an appt, the person said, “ok, we have 9, 9:10, 9:20 or 9:30”. I told her that didn’t make any sense because internal med appts were always 20 minutes. She said, “they are - we just schedule them this way”. Well, do the math…sigh.

3

My general practioner or primary care physician as now called gives you exactly 2 minutes. This is only adequate for renewal of existing prescriptions.

4

Darned solid advice up there!!! The diabetes doctor is the single most important source of care in your life right now. Especially if you are newly diagnosed with diabetes.

My only other input would be to find a different doctor if you don’t get a lot more action out of him on Wednesday. Don’t let him leave the room without answering your questions (which you need to write down) AND giving you a referral for an education program. Most hospitals run them quite often.

Keep your chin up and go get 'em tiger!!!

Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI

5

I have a bit of a problem with docs who want to prescribe drugs for just about everything without suggesting a natural or alternate method.
As a recent T1 (14 months) and not on any drug although suggested and refused I have found various natural supplements that have regulated any problems that I have had ( fortunately minor , cholesterol levels were just out of the recommended range and doc not too concerned) hower recommended some stange named drug, since slightly changed diet , few herbs and seemed to have reversed)