Diabetes Blog Week Day 1: Share & Don't Share

Day 1 of Diabetes Blog week is here! Today's topic reads:

"Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one's daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don't see?"

I'm excited that diabetes blog week is here but this one has me bordering on writer's block already! There's a few reasons for this. 1.) The very nature of writing a blog means that anyone and everyone can read what I'm thinking and going through. My medical team could probably get a much better insight into 'my diabetes' just by popping by for a few moments. 2.) There's nothing really that I hope they don't see. I am who I am. I have great days and not so great days. I am human after all. In fact, I am positive that what I feel are my 'not so great days' are actually equal to someone's good day sometimes!

and 3.) I do wish though that I had a better medical team that got me, that took the time to understand my diabetes, not just text book diabetes. I probably don't visit my local diabetes centre nearly enough, simply because I don't feel I get enough out of the visit to warrant even the lost pay for the time I have to take out to visit. I don't even feel confident that they are up to date enough with research, studies, programs and new technologies. Horrible I know. That's why I decided to start visiting medical professionals outside of the main diabetes care circles as well. Like a dietitian, this was a break through step for me. I am already alot happier. I was sick of being told to simply eat more carbs or be questioned as to why I would prefer almond milk over cows milk, or why was using coconut oil. I don't want to eat more carbs (I feel 120-150g a day is fine) and I don't want to drink more cow's milk. I wanted to eat smarter. That's where a dietitian who wasn't focused on diabetes, but on sports nutrition and energy, and getting to know a new patient, really helped me out. If you're having similar issues, I highly recommend investigating other medical professionals that can look at your individual needs and questions, not just the fact you have diabetes. Remember though, that this is also my experience, and the onus is as much on the patient at times to communicate their needs, wants, and questions, as it is for the medical professional to interpret, inform, guide & treat you. Always of course, still visit your core diabetes management team, but an extra visit to a new face may be what you've been searching for.

I look forward to the day when I can connect with my diabetes centre better. Perhaps when I cross over to pumping.