Bit of background first:
I’m on an insulin pump, have been for 4 years, I handle it reasonably well, I carb count and have improved considerably from when I was on MDI injections.
The last 12 months having read numerous books including the amazing Gary Scheiner ‘Think Like A Pancreas’; followed with advice from people on here and also by reducing my carbohydrate intake, and exercising almost 5 times a week I’ve improved things even more.
I’ve managed to get my HBA1c down from 7.4% to 6.7% in 6 months, I’ve gone from 8st 2lb to 7st 5lb in 18 months (just in time for my wedding next month-yey) and I do genuinely feel healthy.
I’m really proud of myself and love the low carb diet, I literally went from about 300 carbs a day to about 124, sometimes only 100. My control is the best it’s ever been, don’t get me wrong I’m still learning and have just self funded a CGM to go with my pump so that I can fine tune and iron out the kinks once a month – just to make sure basals are correct really.
So anyway I went to clinic for my 3-4 month review today. I usually see my DSN which is fine, she’s a nice lady, she knows my history, knows I’m more than capable, knows I’ve borrowed the hospital sensor about 4 times, but whilst she was giving me all my blood results I couldn’t help but laugh in my head at what she was coming out with – she’s meant to be the font of all knowledge for diabetes and instead I get the following statements:
“So how long can you leave the sensor in for?” – Your a diabetes nurse that has previously given me a sensor – stupid question
“what blood tests do you normally get?” – you ordered them, you tell me
In response to why do I keep going hypo late afternoon – “ooh I don’t know, it is tricky isn’t it”
“You like to keep a close eye on your HBA1c don’t you, you shouldn’t worry so much” – erm, really, this is the indicator for how tight you can run your control and a good measure of reducing complications.
Is it just me or is it really scary that health professionals know less than us?
I was telling her about the lower carb diet I was following and that I was always out and about keeping busy and her responses every time are along the lines of, why are you on a diet your slim anyway.
The best one was me asking how related amenorrhea and diabetes was and where any patients similar to myself – her response: “that’s strange. I wonder if it’s a hormonal problem, go and see your GP”
Anyway never mind, rant over (sorry), really infuriates me that we have to go away and learn how to live and survive all by ourselves and then we get no recognition for how bloody hard we’ve worked for it. I mean our lives are a full time job! It’s no wonder we’re all shattered and half depressed.
I’m on an insulin pump, have been for 4 years, I handle it reasonably well, I carb count and have improved considerably from when I was on MDI injections.
The last 12 months having read numerous books including the amazing Gary Scheiner ‘Think Like A Pancreas’; followed with advice from people on here and also by reducing my carbohydrate intake, and exercising almost 5 times a week I’ve improved things even more.
I’ve managed to get my HBA1c down from 7.4% to 6.7% in 6 months, I’ve gone from 8st 2lb to 7st 5lb in 18 months (just in time for my wedding next month-yey) and I do genuinely feel healthy.
I’m really proud of myself and love the low carb diet, I literally went from about 300 carbs a day to about 124, sometimes only 100. My control is the best it’s ever been, don’t get me wrong I’m still learning and have just self funded a CGM to go with my pump so that I can fine tune and iron out the kinks once a month – just to make sure basals are correct really.
So anyway I went to clinic for my 3-4 month review today. I usually see my DSN which is fine, she’s a nice lady, she knows my history, knows I’m more than capable, knows I’ve borrowed the hospital sensor about 4 times, but whilst she was giving me all my blood results I couldn’t help but laugh in my head at what she was coming out with – she’s meant to be the font of all knowledge for diabetes and instead I get the following statements:
“So how long can you leave the sensor in for?” – Your a diabetes nurse that has previously given me a sensor – stupid question
“what blood tests do you normally get?” – you ordered them, you tell me
In response to why do I keep going hypo late afternoon – “ooh I don’t know, it is tricky isn’t it”
“You like to keep a close eye on your HBA1c don’t you, you shouldn’t worry so much” – erm, really, this is the indicator for how tight you can run your control and a good measure of reducing complications.
Is it just me or is it really scary that health professionals know less than us?
I was telling her about the lower carb diet I was following and that I was always out and about keeping busy and her responses every time are along the lines of, why are you on a diet your slim anyway.
The best one was me asking how related amenorrhea and diabetes was and where any patients similar to myself – her response: “that’s strange. I wonder if it’s a hormonal problem, go and see your GP”
Anyway never mind, rant over (sorry), really infuriates me that we have to go away and learn how to live and survive all by ourselves and then we get no recognition for how bloody hard we’ve worked for it. I mean our lives are a full time job! It’s no wonder we’re all shattered and half depressed.
