explaining diabetes to a phlebotomist

[Mep]

This morning I went to get my pathology tests done for the diabetes and cholesterol checks.

The phlebotomist asks are you diabetic? Yes I am. She then asks how do you manage your diabetes? I said I have at least 4 insulin injections daily. She made some noises suggesting she hated hearing I have to inject... and then oh no really? that's horrible having to do that everyday.

Then she says I was trained about diabetes but I can't remember what insulin does. So there I am explaining how insulin is the key that unlocks cells to receive sugar to use as energy. Then I said if there is a problem with insulin production or the body doesn't know what to do with it then sugar just sits in the blood and the cells aren't necessarily getting the energy they're supposed to be getting. Oh that's right she says... now I remember.

I'm thinking surely she sees lots of diabetics in her line of work.... maybe she was just checking if I knew. lol

 

[JohnEGreen]

Yes when last in hospital for my op got asked five times by the same nurse arer you diabetic the answer each time was the same yes I am.. Don't know if she thought I had been cured since she last asked or what.

With my MG as it is relatively very uncommon every time I was hospitalised I found I had to explain it to the nurses and even some doctors over and over again in the end I got a load of leaflets explaining Myasthenia Gravis and when hospitalised would leave them at the nurses station for them to read.

 

[Oldvatr]

This morning I went to get my pathology tests done for the diabetes and cholesterol checks.

The phlebotomist asks are you diabetic? Yes I am. She then asks how do you manage your diabetes? I said I have at least 4 insulin injections daily. She made some noises suggesting she hated hearing I have to inject... and then oh no really? that's horrible having to do that everyday.

Then she says I was trained about diabetes but I can't remember what insulin does. So there I am explaining how insulin is the key that unlocks cells to receive sugar to use as energy. Then I said if there is a problem with insulin production or the body doesn't know what to do with it then sugar just sits in the blood and the cells aren't necessarily getting the energy they're supposed to be getting. Oh that's right she says... now I remember.

I'm thinking surely she sees lots of diabetics in her line of work.... maybe she was just checking if I knew. lol

Found this description of what a fleabotomist does
<<Phlebotomists are specialist clinical support workers who take blood samples from patients (usually in hospital) for testing in laboratories. The results of the tests are an important way of diagnosing illness. As a phlebotomist, your duties would include: explaining the procedure to patients.>>
So I think she must have been winding you up about injections.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

My phlebotomists admit that they don't like needles (when they are at the receiving end).

I imagine that diabetics are not their main customers anyway - they probably see mainly heart patients who are on warfarin and so need very regular checks. I only see my phlebotomist twice a year; many T2 diabetics only get checked once a year.

[Oh, and my favourite phlebotomist who I have known for about 20 years through Yoga classes tells me her daughters refer to her as a "flabbybottomist" which I consider a bit harsh. ]

 

[Mep]

Yeh here the pathology collection centres employ phlebotomists. I used to call them nurses until my aunt who was trained as one corrected me.

I think they're used inserting needles into everyone anyhow (some are better than others at it that's for sure).... but the thought of having to do it to yourself is I think what she was reacting to with me.

 

[Oldvatr]

Yeh here the pathology collection centres employ phlebotomists. I used to call them nurses until my aunt who was trained as one corrected me.

I think they're used inserting needles into everyone anyhow (some are better than others at it that's for sure).... but the thought of having to do it to yourself is I think what she was reacting to with me.

OK. I'm squeamish myself, so understand. As a heart patient, a stroke patient, and diabetic, I am only to be checked once a year now.

 

[Mep]

OK. I'm squeamish myself, so understand. As a heart patient, a stroke patient, and diabetic, I am only to be checked once a year now.

Yeh I'm overdue my diabetic check up. But I'm always getting tests regularly to check for various things for my other conditions. It's a sad reality that I know the phlebotomists at about 3 different collection centres as I regularly go to all 3 of them... they all know my name. It depends where I am as to which one I go to..... e.g.. near work or near home.