Did you ever ask yourself why others seem to have the doctor from diabetes’ heaven and others leaves you scratching your head? In my years, I have never been able to figure why there are such differences out there, but there are. But it is not always just about the doctor.
What I do know.
Without a shadow of doubt there is NO QUESTION on the importance of the medical team who treat our children. I also know that the more we know, the better advocate we can be. There is surely a difference between challenging your doctor while being informed and merely asking questions about something that may result in better management care for your child.
There is a difference between asking should my child be on insulin pump and stating; “I think this about pump ABC and Pump XYZ; but I also feel ‘this’ about the new insulin pens out there, what do you think?”
Which seems like the better approach to you?
In 1999 when Kaitlyn wanted to go on an insulin pump, we did our homework, and not only were we ready; we informed our doctor that we wanted to wear a pump also (filled with saline) so we knew exactly what it was like for her. We were that determined. (and we did, btw)
If there was any resistance in the past, it was now gone. And away we went and it changed the entire practice as they became one of the leaders in insulin pump therapy in this area.
If you look to your medical team for answers and have done no homework, you will receive nothing but their advice to consider. Good as that may be, if you do your homework, you can ask questions about what you have found out and the BEST approach moving forward as a joint decision. You have one patient (unless of course you have more than one child with T1), they have hundreds. Know what is best for YOUR patient, in your opinion; and discuss.
There is not ‘just one’ of anything anymore and there are certainly more than one approaches to diabetes care. Educate yourself and you will be much better off in the decision-making process for the proper day-to-day management of your child. And if you have tried everything you can and your doctor is not on the same page; look around for another.
No one else will do it for you………………………start today.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.