Comments on: How to Be a Good Diabetes Patient, From an Endo’s POV

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:58:50 +0000

I agree with somethings that the Dr. wrote and others piss me off.

First off… The closest Endo to me is almost 2 hours away… So although I am normally 15-20 min early please understand that I drive almost 2 hours with no traffic and well over 2 hours with traffic… Also I have a job, go to school, as well as take care of a 5 year old since my borther is in Iraq. and I AM ONLY 21!!!!
Two: I usually do write down my blood sugars, carb intake, and insulin (as well as where a pump and CGMS) although if I forget it or lose it on the way PLEASE FORGIVE ME! But I am only one person trying to do a job of a village.
Three: You do NOT live with this illness everyday… It is a frustrating, non forgiving illness. So if I forget to check my blood sugar or plain just don’t want to do it, forget to bolus or just don’t… Keep in mind that I am suffering the consequenes of my actions (or inactions) you are not… you are not my parent, my uncle, my aunt, or my grandparent. DO NOT TREAT ME LIKE I AM A 5 YEAR OLD! In the case of my doctor I have had Diabetes longer then you have had a medical degree. So lay off it!
Four: YES I do get depressed from Diabetes as well as fed up and sometimes wish I could grab it by the shoulders and throw it against a wall! But other times I don’t… So forgive me when I tell you this because MAYBE JUST MAYBE I need to get it off my chest or maybe I just need to cry! Don’t look at me like I’m crazy and keep typing… Why don’t you stop and talk about it with me…

Why don’t Doctor’s try to understand what we are going through and treat me/us like adults that have to deal with everyday stressors as well as this damn illness.

By: Edwin

Edwin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:23:37 +0000

Great suggestion!
I hearing that the millions of afflicted Americans are confused, frightened, and often receiving sub-par treatment from inexperienced primary care physicians.

By: Sasha

Sasha — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:19:58 +0000

“a disparity in height between provider/patient.”

Would someone explain this one to me? If I am reading it correctly the Dr. does not want the patient to appear taller than her? For what reason? At best this seems condescending but perhaps someone can offer a different view of this comment by the doctor.

By: Santosh

Santosh — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:12:10 +0000

Thanks for the information.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:28:47 +0000

Wow! I agree with Lauren K…. the med student and Type 1 diabetic.

Unless you live with this disease day by day… hour by hour…. minute by minute…you really just can’t look at the numbers and expect to have a grasp on what to recommend and do for someone. There are too many variables. Insulin dosing changes constantly depending on all of the variables that a doctor can’t or should not predict.

I think doctors think that their formulas/ I:C ratio’s etc. are the only and absolute way to handle diabetes and they are the “LAW”.

By: June S.

June S. — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:03:14 +0000

Well, I’m glad to know that I fall in the category of “ideal patient!” In fact, I routinely arrive 15 minutes early for an appointment, though I often have to wait at least 1/2 hour after my appointment slot to actually be seen by the endo. I’ve been writing lists of questions for years – I think it’s a great idea for everyone to do that. Rather than blast this endo, who is trying her best, just realize that there are time constraints placed on her by insurance companies. It would be lovely if “Obamacare” would solve all of these problems, but I doubt that it will.

By: Symposier

Symposier — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:12:58 +0000

Well from now on I’ll take some of the “Ideal patient points” as my guide to follow when visiting my Endocrinologist. I think that as patient we must be aware that our Doctor is still a “normal human being” ((with lots of knowledge’s and abilities)) and we most treat him/her as we like to be treated. Thanks for this interesting article

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:12:57 +0000

I think it’s precious that an endo is telling the world how to be a great patient. And clearly, this Dr. is one of the few that we’d all be lucky to have access to.

HOWEVER:

While I show up early to EVERY appointment, I’ve NEVER actually seen the Dr. on time. I routinely am left in the waiting room for 15-30 mins after the appointment is to start.

Once I get in to the exam room, I get asked a series of questions that may as well consist of: “I’m too lazy to look at your chart, and we LOVE redundancy here so could you tell me all of the information that I already have in this little computer thingy?”

I am routinely spoken to as if I have a third grade comprehension of physiology, even though I make it clear from the outset that I have a thorough understanding of my chronic illness and its treatment.

Worst of all, I can’t get in to see my endo with less than 3 months notice and if I have to change my appointment I go to the bottom of the list. This makes me feel like I am absolutely last priority and absolutely not a “partner” in facilitating health treatment.

All that being said, I’ll be sure to sit in the chair so as not to create “a disparity in height between provider/patient.” I wouldn’t want my Dr. to feel as screwed by the process as I do.

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:09:56 +0000

If I had a nickel for the 30 to 60 minutes I have sat in a doctor’s office even when I’ve shown up early! Don’t tell ME to be on time! I have to take time off from work and wasting another hour doesn’t help my mood either!

By: Kelly Rawlings

Kelly Rawlings — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:00:00 +0000

First, I would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the dozens of high quality healthcare professional who I have selected and paid to help me with my diabetes self-care. I hope that I have done my share despite ridiculous limitations in the length of office visits and lack of use of technology to get needed glucose/food/meds records (my endo’s office stopped downloading from meters because there were too many kinds!) in making our working relationship a smooth, efficient, and results-oriented one.

Dr. Peters raises some excellent points and I appreciate she has entered them into the wider dialogue. But I have to agree that her “what you can do for me” attitude and method of delivery has, unfortunately, added to the ongoing and justified dissatisfaction many of us living with a chronic condition experience in our relationships with health care providers.

Go, Mike. We need your “patient” POV pronto!