tired of the job of diabetes advocate.

 

I just need to complain for a minute.

I get tired of having to always be my own diabetes advocate when it comes to dealing with the rest of the medical world. I'm shocked at how universally inconsistent these trained medical professionals are when it comes to diabetes. Which is annoying most of the time and downright scary when it comes to dealing with medical issues other than diabetes. Without going into the gory details of a recent procedure I had to undergo, suffice it to say that I spent a good deal of time and energy down field blocking with the medical institutions I encountered, all while at the same time doing what every other non-diabetic has to do before this kind of test. I called beforehand to several people, receptionists, nurses and in-take personnel, just to be sure that they knew that I had type1 diabetes and that I would be arriving in the morning having not eaten for 24 hours. I called to ask my doctor and the doctor who would be doing the procedure for the protocol if I went low the night before having not eaten all day (which I did). I called to figure out how much to reduce my basal rate to deal with the lows, not once but twice because I continued to float downward over the course of the evening. At 11:00pm the night before the procedure we even discussed whether or not I should go to the hospital to get a glucose drip if my blood sugars didn't rise soon. It was a lot of work to say the least.

In the end, everything worked out. It worked out because I consulted with lot's of people and asked questions and insisted on engagement. I was nervous going in so I called on my medical resources for advice. We scenario planned. On the actual day, we did some more tweaking because it turned out that what I suspected would happen, did, in spite of the fact that everyone else predicted otherwise. At the end of the day it worked out because of persistence and focus on my part to make it so. Work on top of going through a very unpleasant procedure. One that thousands of people have to go through, yes. I just had to do it with a job on top of it. Diabetes advocate. Diabetes educator. Diabetes patient. Diabetes pest. Diabetic me. 

I get that I have to do this because I have diabetes. I accept that. But I also need to say that it tires me out, this job of advocacy. It leaves me weary. Yes, indeed it does.

There, complaining done.

Comments

[Minnesota Nice]

Oh man, Birdie. I also could go on......and on.....and on about the "uiversally inconsistent" behavior (I guess I would call it STUPID).
Like the time I was in the hospital overnight for my broken ankle. The nurse said "oh, we like you to run a little high so you don't have an insulin reaction. "Insulin reaction" I hadn't heard that term in years. I concluded that they liked me to run a little high so they wouldn't have to spend as much time checking on me. Fortunately, a friend had brought me my own insulin and I supplemented as necessary (under the sheets, when no one was looking.) I am getting riled up just thinking back on this.
Sigh.........I'm glad you're okay. I was concerned because you'd deviated from your normal postig rhythm.