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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bic" data-source="post: 1665433" data-attributes="member: 215944">Hi jayLeigh, I used to loathe going to appointments, bu then I got fed up with this and decided to complain to the head of the relevant hospital department, and it worked! It is definitely worth trying. You could write an email to the person in charge of the clinic (or whoever is your doctor's boss; even a private practice is answerable to some higher authority) the reasons for your dissatisfaction, trying to be very matter-of-fact. They won't listen you much if you tell: 'I am an anxious kind of person and I resent being scolded' or 'I dislike doctor's XY manners'… but they probably will if you explain that such and such attitude is definitely not helping you achieve a better management, and add your numbers as a piece of evidence. So your not-perfect numbers can be your allies, in this particular setting. Try to make a not overlong, clear and detailed list of what you expect from your doctors and what kind of help you need most just now. Like, a scientific, matter-of-fact attitude that really help you figure out attainable goals and reach them through a definite set of actions that are doable (insist on this) and consistent with your habits, work, age, level of diabetes-expertise (how long have you been T1? it matters), tastes and personality. Remind him/her that life-long care needs to be tailored to the individual and his/her actual life, or it simply won't work. It's no use, it's a waste of time just frowning on people or scolding them or telling them off. Anxiety, judgement and blame have nothing to do with a health-caring situation: appointments should be a time when you point out the problems you are meeting, explain the solutions you have envisaged, and when your doctors help you identify critical areas and actually SUGGEST not only what to do (all too simple!) but most importantly HOW to do it, ie how to make your management more compatible with your actual life.To answer your question, after I complained to the person in charge of the department I was changed to a different consultant: no more fruitless anxiety and better help. So perhaps you could try this. One doesn't even need above-average writing skills: ask a friend to help if you don't feel confident enough. But really, appointments shouldn't be the kind of things you lose your sleep about…Best wishes!</blockquote>

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