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Kudos to my diabetes educator and Endo...

6K views 19 replies 8 participants last post by  Jen 
#1 ·
I have read on other forums as well as this one that a large amount of diabetics are dissatisfied with their educator and/or Endo. As important as it is to make others aware of issues or negative trends that occur in our treatment, I think it is also important to recognize those that really go out of their way for us.

I was originally diagnosed by my family physician. She is a fantastic general practitioner (actually a D.O.) that treats our entire family. When she saw my HbA1C level at 15.4 she immediately thought type 2 diabetes (as this is what she sees the most with newly diagnosed adults).

Two weeks later she sent me to a diabetes educator, in my case an RN/CDE who happens to have type 1 as well. She spent about 2 hours with me in her office, discussing what this means, different ways to treat it, learning what I needed and what I was feeling. Based on our discussion, she had doubts about my type 2 diagnoses and ordered more blood tests. She was correct, I was actually type 1.

I had another 2 hour session with her, where she spoke with me at length about the advised diet for diabetics and how it is not necessarily what works for everyone. I explained that I was already doing low carb, which she agreed was a great way to eat for a diabetic. She then helped me get an appoinment with a fantastic Endo.

My experience with my Endo has been just as good. My Endo also has type 1 and is also a believer in eating lower carb, no matter which type of diabetes you have.

Just yesterday I was thinking how I needed to send my educator an update on how I was doing. About 15 minutes later I received an email from her asking how I was doing. Thought I would share it.

==
Hey Jeremy,
Been wondering how my star patient is doing? What was follow up at U of W like and what information did they add to what we were already doing? Also curious if Benaroya Research had anything you could participate in. I've had two more patients with scenarios similar to yours within the past month and am always wanting to learn more. Adult onset type 1 seems to be a burgeoning field and I'd love to learn how the specialists in the industry are handling your case.

Hope all is well with your family and health,

Best regards,
==

I called her and we chatted for about half an hour. I feel truly blessed to have health professionals that really do care and are open to doing what is best for "me" not what the ADA necessarily dictates. I hope many of you have a similar experience over the course of our diabetic lives...if not, I am happy that we have a common place such as this forum to go to for support.

Cheers,

Jeremy
 
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#2 ·
Man, I wish I could say the same about my Dr., dietician and the educators around here! Gratz to yours!
 
#4 ·
Would you be willing to share the name of your endo? I haven't gone to one yet but I assume someday I'll need to.
I really lucked out with my doctor too... first thing he advised me to do was "go on Atkins, you'll need to go low-carb anyway". He knows all the studies that have been done and understands that the ADA is pretty much worthless. He listens and considers my point of view too - we really actually decide together what is right for me. He already knows he can't order me around, hehe.
 
#5 · (Edited)
That's great, I am glad that you have a great doctor! I go to the University of Washington Medicine Endocrynology dept. It is headed up by Dr. Irl Hirsch, a leader in diabetes treatment and research (Hirsch, Irl B. - UW Medicine Biographies). He is involved in all patient care at the clinic, but is not currently accepting new patients. Here is a great interview with him. Taking Control Of Your Diabetes - Talking With Irl

You can see that he is very passionate about proper diabetes education.

I am seeing Dr. Lisa Gilliam (Gilliam, Lisa K. - UW Medicine Biographies). As I alluded earlier, she is fantastic and is completely open to listening to me and being open to my treatment. My diabetes educator, whom I would also absolutely recommend, is Jonna Smith at Valley Medical Center in Kent, WA.

Cheers,

Jeremy
 
#6 ·
You are indeed fortunate! I enjoy hearing about enlightened clinicians. Hopefully their wisdom will spread. (And spread right quick.)

Just learned from a couple of in-laws that at least some hospitals and practices (in Nevada and Oregon) deal sensibly with diabetes and refuse to stuff their patients with carbs.
 
#7 ·
Jeremymc1 said:
That's great, I am glad that you have a great doctor! I go to the University of Washington Medicine Endocrynology dept. It is headed up by Dr. Irl Hirsch, a leader in diabetes treatment and research (Hirsch, Irl B. - UW Medicine Biographies). He is involved in all patient care at the clinic, but is not currently accepting new patients. Here is a great interview with him. Taking Control Of Your Diabetes - Talking With Irl

You can see that he is very passionate about proper diabetes education.

I am seeing Dr. Lisa Gilliam (Gilliam, Lisa K. - UW Medicine Biographies). As I alluded earlier, she is fantastic and is completely open to listening to me and being open to my treatment. My diabetes educator, whom I would also absolutely recommend, is Jonna Smith at Valley Medical Center in Kent, WA.

Cheers,

Jeremy
Are you going to the diabetes expo at the convention center on Saturday?
 
#8 ·
Chesney said:
Are you going to the diabetes expo at the convention center on Saturday?
Yep, planning on it!! How bout you?

Cheers,

Jeremy
 
#11 ·
Ahh, we'll think about you Shanny!

Cheers,

Jeremy
 
#12 ·
No... Hubby and I are hermits - takes alot to get us out where there is any kind of crowd. LOL Besides, I figure it's ADA related and would probably just tick me off. The older I get the less patience I have with morons. That probably sounds worse than I actually am.. I can be very pleasant, sometimes.
 
#14 ·
Shanny said:
(if you guys get to meet up at the expo, I'm gonna sit the corner & be horribly envious . . . )
Don't be... We'll meet up some day... Who knows maybe in 5 years we'll be living back in Missouri
 
#15 ·
Chesney said:
We are planning on it. We should meet up.
Absolutely! Maybe private message me your number and I will call you :)

Cheers,

Jeremy
 
G
#17 · (Edited)
Well one thing I've learnt well is that all our medical professionals are humans just like us. I really appreciate my medical team and I really can see that they are trying their best for me... even when they do make decisions that don't work for me at times... they keep trying. Like for me hearing my GI specialist wants to see me asap despite his busy schedule was comforting to me (but then again I have had bad side effects to his prescribed meds)... usually you have to book way ahead to see them here... obviously he considers I'm an urgent case right now. I really appreciate my GP, my endo, my D educators who let you ring them anytime, and even the lovely nurse at the diabetic clinic who comes and has a chat with me in the waiting room every time she gets a spare moment when I'm there (probably because I've been a regular). It puts a human face to it all when they show empathy and that they care. I can then tolerate mistakes a bit better... it's when they have that horrible 'bedside' (or arrogant) manner that I really start to switch off.
 
#18 ·
Will you guys give a report on what you see, learn, what's interesting, what's not - for those of us envious even though it is the ADA?
 
#20 ·
Jeremy - I think the difference between your experience and others' is that both your clinicians are diabetics themselves. They're keenly aware of the challenges you face. Certainly there are non-diabetic medical professionals who provide excellent service, but nothing beats hands on experience to change someone's attitude!

Jen
 
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