Am I allowed to rant? Diabetic consultant...

[Lunar_Lapin]

I just got my hba1c results and they were excellent (5.7%). I wanted to talk about hypos as with a recent change in diet and exercise I am experiencing quite a few. I have messed about with basal rates and delayed glucose lowering (a good cardio sessions drops my levels substantially for approx 18 hours). All improvements for me have been a result of trial and error which I am happy with because I'm getting to know my own body as well as my diabetes.

I am sick to death of appointments where I see a different doctor each time due to staff rotations and being asked ridiculous questions that would be asked of a newly diagnosed patient. Is this how it is going to be forever?! I get irritated easily I know, but I am fed up of being patronised by doctors that clearly have literally no idea what it is like to live with diabetes.

Rant over, apologies -
Ellie x

 

[CarbsRok]

Just give the culprit a blank look and say are you talking to me as I am not newly diagnosed. Then ask the questions you want to ask if no answer then get up and walk out saying oh that's another waste of time apt. It works very well.

 

[tim2000s]

Then go and rant on Twitter and on your blog and send copies to the clinic managers.

 

[himtoo]

well done on the 5.7%
excellent work you have put in to achieve that !!

 

[Sucre Bleu]

And in the ranting spirit, I have had a 5,7 and a 5.4 as my last HbA1cs and was told... too low too low by different doctors, I was having a lot of hypos and they were not surprised

 

[mrspuddleduck]

Just remember, how else will they learn about diabetes if they can't ask an expert! Seriously I've been under the same pancreatic team for 16 years and obviously have got to known the Consultant pretty well. He makes no secret about it, he gets the newbie doctors to see me and tells them they had better make the most of the opportunity cos he asks them questions after! Do I get peed off, occasionally but then I think if I can change one uneducated one (attitude or knowledge) then I'm happy

 

[petdell]

Unfortunately you never get the samended advice twice. Lower the basal up the bolus, next visit, lower the bolus up the basal. Always a different Dr.
At least it's some advise. Years ago it was . "How are you"" if you said "ok" it was right then, see you in twelve months.
It's a wonder most of us are still alive, well I think I am,will just ask the wife. Lol

 

[AndyS]

I've found similar. Different consultant each time and each one of them seems to want to criticise on something or fiddle and change stuff based on a 15 minute consult.
Great A1c, your weight is too high. Get that nailed, your BP is too high. Then that sorted, you need statins. Then "oh your A1c is so good you MUST be having hypos all the time"
I mean come on!
Through all of this the DSN's have always been great, always encouraging and then offering advice instead of telling you.

So I did get another "You need to lose weight Dr" and I kind of snapped that day since this guys was 4 inches shorter than me and getting on double my weight. My Response was "You first!" So these days I will simply stand my ground and argue with them on the data if they want to be difficult. If they refuse to budge then so be it, I point out I live with it daily and know obviously know what I am doing since I have had zero incidents of DKA and zero Hypos requiring 3rd party assistance and managed to keep my A1c below 6.5 the whole time.
That has usually shut them up completely, oddly enough my GP is best about it all and freely admits I clearly know more than him and he asks me to please continue doing what I am because I make the surgery stats looks much better. Having seen the NDA for my surgery I can see what he means too

If you can get them to listen then great, otherwise I think the politely listen and then just do your own thing if it works for you.

A

 

[Jaylee]

Lol. I've had similar.. "We're worried about the hypos" what hypos? No more than usual.. We're going to have to respectfully & professionally disagree. You do this for a living & I live the dream... Shouldn't you be more concerned about the potential complications I could get from the HbA1c of 7.5ish you want me to cruise at???

 

[Bluemarine Josephine]

Firstly I would like to say that you are so beautiful!! I love seeing diabetics who have not abandoned themselves but, instead, look beautiful and vibrant! Very well done!

When I was diagnosed (and for about 2 years) I was desperate to feel understood by my doctors and diabetes nurses. I tried every strategy… From arguing and not wanting to see them, to breaking down and crying and everything in between.

And then I realized that there is so much effort in trying to make people understand… from relatives to practitioners (particularly practitioners).

So now, I go to the appointments, I listen to what they say, I nod positively to everything.
I go my merry way and do what I know that works best for me. The appointments are smooth and friendly and we are all happy.

And, unlike other diabetics (whom I respect immensly for their patience) I have absolutely no willingness or patience to teach anyone about my diabetes.

Regards
Josephine.

 

[tim2000s]

It's interesting. When I see the registrars, I get annoyed with them as mostly they can't answer questions. Engagement with the consultants has always been very different though. They seem to have a much better take on it.

 

[Lynz84]

Hi Ellie,

I haven't had a consultant treat me like that, but a dietician!!! Going on insulin for T1 I put on nearly 1.5 stone in 6 months and she was talking to me like I should know better. I was not best pleased. I was trying to cope with a life changing illness and obviously insulin puts weight on (especially after being so ill and losing lots of weight) and shes concerned about my **** dress size! I was a size 14 at that point...hardly morbidly obese.

Sometimes I think professionals see you as your illness instead of as a person!

 

[Abzio_Cappuccino]

I'm lucky that I live in a small town so I know most of the nurses and specialists, but it still doesn't mean they're really patronising. I've been living with this for 4 years, and every 3 frigging months I go to the clinic, my specialist says, "How are you?" I say, "Fine." and I leave! Even though I see the same specialist, she's really patronising and treats me like I'm 5 years old. And don't even get me started on dieticians... when I was first diagnosed I was eating cake for breakfast (still do ) and she was ranting at me every time I saw her, and guess what: she was four times the size of me! I am not kidding! The diabetic department really need to up their game

 

[Marhcy]

What a relief to read this thread. My nephew is t1, diagnosed 18 months ago.
It's like hitting your head against a brick wall with the appointments! Every single piece of advise he is given is conflicting. There's so much we feel we still need to know and yet you can't seem to get the answers. He has lost so much weight and try as we might to get someone to say what he can do to try and put some back on, we are in the dark. X

 

[L3wisr]

I've had a fair few that are similar. During my last appointment my doctor told me that he didn't believe me about my control and my readings even though he was getting them from my sensor. Strange. I just take no notice at most times now.

 

[Kazza63]

I have just been put on bydureon by a consultant but when I read up about it it says it shouldn't be used with insulin and for type 1 diabetics as it hasn't been tested. The side effects are horrendous and the worry about thyroid cancer and pancreatitis has made me think twice. I am 6 weeks in and have felt awful the whole time so I have decided to just stop taking it. It is my body and therefore my decision I feel! So much for consultants knowing what's best for you!!!

 

[richyb]

well done on the 5.7%
excellent work you have put in to achieve that !!

hello
I have been type 1 for over 50yrs. Recently I asked my gp for a pump . He gave me a referral and I have seen a specialist nurse about this. The reason I want one is I have now got a lot of swelling and lumps, also my control now seems not good. I have had extensive laser surgery on both eyes and have limited movement in both shoulders. I still work though. The nurse seemed to agree with me about a pump but when she put it to the consultant he said I do not meet the criteria. I am worried about my eyes as he has now put me on old fashioned insulin 2 a day. I have done the DAFNE course and was followinrg the regime. Sugars now terrible but I am seeing nurse again soon.

 

[Sarahkylie88]

I'm lucky that I live in a small town so I know most of the nurses and specialists, but it still doesn't mean they're really patronising. I've been living with this for 4 years, and every 3 frigging months I go to the clinic, my specialist says, "How are you?" I say, "Fine." and I leave! Even though I see the same specialist, she's really patronising and treats me like I'm 5 years old. And don't even get me started on dieticians... when I was first diagnosed I was eating cake for breakfast (still do ) and she was ranting at me every time I saw her, and guess what: she was four times the size of me! I am not kidding! The diabetic department really need to up their game

I also have a dietitian who was a lot, lot bigger than me. She ranted at me for what i was eating, so I took it n thought ok, maybe I do need to be a bit healthier. Has to sit and wait to see the nurse, the dietitian came in from the canteen... Sausage bap, McCoys crisps, can of full fat coke and a slab of cake. I can't abide hypocrites!! Refused to see her since and have since seen a realistic, fab, dietician who wants to help not preach!

 

[isjoberg]

I am actually really glad to have changing doctors. I have been diabetic for 19 years, and I love seeing new doctors because they have new ideas and are keen to work on my control. Prior to changing doctors there had been no updates in medication or styles of control for 12 years, and now after 2 doctors I have had a CGM and been put on a new insulin! I appreciate it may be irritating to explain but turn up with your information, nod and listen to what they have to say!

 

[Neohdiver]

Just remember, how else will they learn about diabetes if they can't ask an expert! Seriously I've been under the same pancreatic team for 16 years and obviously have got to known the Consultant pretty well. He makes no secret about it, he gets the newbie doctors to see me and tells them they had better make the most of the opportunity cos he asks them questions after! Do I get peed off, occasionally but then I think if I can change one uneducated one (attitude or knowledge) then I'm happy

That's my attitude, as well.

They typically have one of two responses:

• They are intimidated and try to put on what they imagine to be grown-up doctor pants, act like know-it-all-jerks who think they should on a pedestal. Those don't last long as my doctors. (Although one lasted for 16 years. Second time we "saw" him (via phone call), he put my 4 year old daughter on medication with tons of side effects, didn't tell me what they were, and refused to discuss a diagnosis with me. So I walked in to the third visit with an inch thick stack of papers, told him what it was clear he was treating her for based on the tests he'd run and the treatment he'd prescribed, and asked him if he was ready to talk. I did a lot of training him. He was useful and I could compensate for his tunnel vision until my daughter's disease got complicated. (I knew what her second, much more severe, disease when he was still reassuring us nothing was wrong. After that he was no longer useful, so we fired him.)

• They love having an informed, engaged, patient. We get down to work together on whatever the newest medical problem is. We talk about research articles on cutting edge treatments, we negotiate disease management in those areas where science doesn't yet have an answer.

I love the latter, and I'll put up with training the former as long as they are useful - or it appears there's a chance working with a patient like me might help them become a better doctor.