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Does your specialist have diabetes?

J

Jane Milburn

Member
Messages
16
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
After having type 1 for 49 years I have never had a doctor, specialist or nurse who has diabetes. Just out of interest, have you and if so have they been able to help you more in your control?
 
I wouldnt know but I suspect my older gp is. He's lost weight recently and advised me on canagliflozin for weight loss as 'his friend' lost weight on it.
He wouldnt tell me outright. I might be able to ask him when the subject arises again.
I doubt my dn is diabetic by her control of food and regimented eating pattern. She doesn't do shift work as attached to clinic.
Because I'm overweight most people give themselves away by what they say. A type 2 diabetic knows the struggle with weight whereas a none insulin resistant sufferer thinks we're obese because we overeat.
 
Yep, I recently had a new pre diabetic DSN.

Not filled with confidence. (bless her) I guess sooner or later I'll see her at the local chemist...

Edited to ad I've dealt recently with a couple of nurses with D partners/husbands too.. (In other areas.) Looks like I'm on my own.? I'd no more trust em to replace a cam belt on a motor....
 
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One DSN had a mother that was T1 and she saw how her mother suffered problems. She was a fantastic DSN and loved to help children and younger persons that were struggling..
 
Such a difficult question to answer , when you see a Dr, Consultant or Nurse they are not going to discuss their own medical condition with their patients so it's likely that many of us have been seen by someone who has diabetes, obviously some are more open than others but some will want to keep their own health as a private matter.
 
noblehead said:
Such a difficult question to answer , when you see a Dr, Consultant or Nurse they are not going to discuss their own medical condition with their patients so it's likely that many of us have been seen by someone who has diabetes, obviously some are more open than others but some will want to keep their own health as a private matter.
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I would agree.. Same with any proffession.

The DSN I saw was new to me. She mentioned her pre-D to make me at ease?
Though I ended up giving her a stark warning regarding her banana breakfast.. While she had me "disadvantaged" with my socks off.
I only felt it "open season." & pointed her to this site! :D
 
Jane Milburn said:
After having type 1 for 49 years I have never had a doctor, specialist or nurse who has diabetes. Just out of interest, have you and if so have they been able to help you more in your control?
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I've had more than one DSN with Type 1 :)

I liked it because I felt that they understood what it was really like living with Type 1.
 
I did once have a locum doctor that asked about my control over my type 2 because its fairly obvious I haven't injected with insulin for coming up two years - so I explained that I'm low carbing with occasional fasting and that started her off - she went on for ages about how she'd reversed her type 2 through using the Newcastle Diet and telling me all the things I shouldn't eat. It would have been nice, under other circumstances, to have found a GP who thought low carbing was okay, except that sadly in all other respects she was a nasty piece of work who had so many complaints about her that they didn't have her back after her first week.

I also remember when I was first diagnosed years ago the (then) DN, while giving me leaflets concerning what I should and shouldn't eat and telling me she would always be on the other end of the phone if I needed advice or just reassurance, told me she thought she would become diabetic soon. It didn't instill a great deal of confidence in me.
 
i used to see a nurse at the surgery. she didn't have diabetes but she did have an attitude problem.
i always see my g.p. now and he is helpful, having a wife who is a type1 helps and he understands that i am not a junk eating couch potato but rather an individual who manages their diabetes to the best of their ability.
 
I know of two practising specialists that are Type 1 and the junior doctor who worked on my Diabetes ward when I was diagnosed was also a T1. He had a Novopen, and as a newly diagnosed teenage boy I wanted one of those!
 
Not as far as I know mind you my neurologist doesn't have MG nor my cardiovascular surgeon have an AAA as far as I know either.
 
JohnEGreen said:
Not as far as I know mind you my neurologist doesn't have MG nor my cardiovascular surgeon have an AAA as far as I know either.
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I've made the point implied by the OP & found doctors agreeing with me - doctors in general have no personal experience with type 2 because they are young when they do their training, They just give the advice & booklets developed & printed by Diabetes uk - & they are decades out of date.
 
I wonder if my mechanic's car has ever broken down?
Or if my plumber ever had a burst pipe?
 
IanD said:
I've made the point implied by the OP & found doctors agreeing with me - doctors in general have no personal experience with type 2 because they are young when they do their training, They just give the advice & booklets developed & printed by Diabetes uk - & they are decades out of date.
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Well at least they would of heard about and had some training in the treatment of diabetes I have come across the odd doctor and several nurses who had never even heard of MG didn't mean they couldn't provide the health care I required. It's like any profession you keep up with progress made in your field.
 
IanD said:
I've made the point implied by the OP & found doctors agreeing with me - doctors in general have no personal experience with type 2 because they are young when they do their training, They just give the advice & booklets developed & printed by Diabetes uk - & they are decades out of date.
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Well, I really have no idea, but

diet doctor,
Fat emperor,
Hendrick,
Prof. Taylor,

I'm sure many more could be added.
But who can name any guru who is type 2?

(Then again, maybe they all are, or maybe they're not, and just have another booklet, I don't know?)

But names would be interesting to see.
 
I saw a locum about 2 1/2 years ago who has 3c and my appointment ran over time due to his interest in my pump and sensors. He even asked permission to have my phone number so he could have a chat about the pump at a more convenient time to both him and me.
 
Avocado Sevenfold said:
Would Dr Michael Mosley count as a guru? He is type 2.


I don't know about my doc or nursie. None of my business really.
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Indeed he would, low cal, med style, 8 week diet, my sort of man.
(But he does seem to be following on from the Newcastle diet a bit, but again, that seems to work well)

And it would be interesting to see other type 2's come out, and to see what works for those that are type 2.
Next?
 
Not sure why it matters tbh. I was referred to a specialist this year - a consultant gynaecologist. He was a bloke :doctor:
 
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