advice on reluctant consultant please

[bexsmith23]

Hi, I have had badly controlled diabetes now for years, with my average bloods running at around 9 thesedays. I am extremely busy teaching and looking after my hyperactive son and i blame my poor control on my hectic lifestyle!!! I have days and sometimes weeks where i am totally focused on my diabetes and then things sometimes settle down, but then I slip back into bad habits again. My bloods fluctuate a lot and i don't eat what i should be eating at the right times. I find it hard to manage my diabetes as I am always grabbing snacks or eating on the go. This sometimes means i do lots of blood tests and lots of small injections in a day, or on other days it is the opposite and i just dont bother injecting for snacks, then end up running high between meals and playing catch up!! I don't have a routine that i stick to as i find that every day is different and generally chaotic!!
So, I thought i would be a good candidate to try an insulin pump as i feel it would give me more flexibility, but my consultant disagrees. We generally don't get on well and he has told me several times I needn't bother coming to clinic if I don't have a decent set of blood test results to show him, as there is nothing he can do for me if I don't sort my blood sugars out. He feels that I would not keep up with the blood glucose testing and that means i am not elligible for a pump. Any thoughts on this anyone?? Or indeed any advicce on what should be my next step?? Thanks

 

[CarbsRok]

Hi, I have had badly controlled diabetes now for years, with my average bloods running at around 9 thesedays. I am extremely busy teaching and looking after my hyperactive son and i blame my poor control on my hectic lifestyle!!! I have days and sometimes weeks where i am totally focused on my diabetes and then things sometimes settle down, but then I slip back into bad habits again. My bloods fluctuate a lot and i don't eat what i should be eating at the right times. I find it hard to manage my diabetes as I am always grabbing snacks or eating on the go. This sometimes means i do lots of blood tests and lots of small injections in a day, or on other days it is the opposite and i just dont bother injecting for snacks, then end up running high between meals and playing catch up!! I don't have a routine that i stick to as i find that every day is different and generally chaotic!!
So, I thought i would be a good candidate to try an insulin pump as i feel it would give me more flexibility, but my consultant disagrees. We generally don't get on well and he has told me several times I needn't bother coming to clinic if I don't have a decent set of blood test results to show him, as there is nothing he can do for me if I don't sort my blood sugars out. He feels that I would not keep up with the blood glucose testing and that means i am not elligible for a pump. Any thoughts on this anyone?? Or indeed any advicce on what should be my next step?? Thanks

Hi Bex,
Your consultant is right regarding the pump.
You have to put in a lot of work and comitment (testing and carb counting)
You must bolus for all food eaten as well.
But he should be helping you to sort things out, not telling you not to bother to turn up. Perhaps a change of consultant or hospital if you can not get on with him might be an option.
Bottom line is though you have to put the work into MDI and show you have done so by recording all your results. Once you have done this a pump will be considered.
There is no excuse what so ever though not to sit down for meals each day. Teachers have lunch breaks the same as everyone else. Snacking all day long is not good for anyone let alone someone with diabetes.

 

[squeeze321]

Hi Bex,

I am sorry to read about the problems you are having with your consultant.....diabetes is hard enough to live with without a consultant making things harder for you.

I never used to test my blood sugars....never and when I asked my consultant about the pump the first thing he said is I would have to test my blood sugars at least 4 times per day. One year on I started from not testing at all to testing 4 times a day and sometimes more if I feel the need and I feel better for it as I can correct for Hi sugars and treat lows more effectivly.

The DAFNE course was also something I had to attend and although I have had to wait a year for it I am due to start pumping in a few weeks time.

Your consultant may request funding if he sees more blood tests and I wish you the best of luck with this.