I'm T2 but when I was in hospital for 8 days with e.coli 0157 I experienced some bullying.
1. Don't assume, when you don't know the patient and don't have his/her full medical history, that you know how s/he developed T2DM and assume that it was by eating cakes and puddings and especially don't tell them that.
2. Don't start lecturing them about eating starchy carbohydrates and stirring their food, telling them that they aren't eating enough carbs, especially not in front of their visitors who are bringing food in - and especially not when you know doctors treating the patient have had food poisoning from the hospital food !!!
3. Explain why you want to give the patient a drug, especially if giving the patient the choice not to have it. Tell them what a sliding scale is and why the doctor wants them to have it and if they aren't on insulin, don't assume they know what a brand name is and will be happy to have it without explanation.
4. BG test as appropriate. Doing it every 2 hrs might well be advisable after surgery but it's surely overkill every 2 hrs night and day for 8 days when the patient is improving. Use the lancet on the sides of fingers not the pads and don't keep using the same finger.
5. If at all possible let the patient manage his or her meds if any, at least to the point of taking them when they usually do, to try to keep their routine and therefore more stable BG.
6. Realise that patients get anxious in hospital, especially when their routine is disrupted and they feel poorly and just because they are on a ward, doesn't mean that diabetes put them there.
7. No HCP should go near someone with diabetes if they don't know the difference between nutritional ketosis and DKA
Gowever, massive Brownie points Lizzie for asking the question !! X
