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Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
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My provider does not have T1. Only someone with it can truly understand the various daily challenges and worth it takes to manage this.
My diabetologist is a type 1 diabetic himself, using the s:slim x2 and G6 as I do.
My endocrinologist is also T1D.
I said yes but that refers to my nurse practitioner who sees me every other visit, if not more often. The doctor may know how hard I try but perhaps takes my efforts for granted.
I have no clue what my T1D health care provider understands about my daily challenges and I don’t know about his daily challenges either. Not sure why I should care as long as I have access to information how to best take care of myself.
My Endo and PA definitely understand. My GP not so much.
Yes my NP definitely understands what living with diabetes is like because she also lives with t1 diabetes so she understands all the ups and downs living with this disease so when I had a bad day and going over numbers she is like I know I have them too.
Both my endocrinologist and my nurse practitioner are great. They compliment me on the way I take care of my life and health and make aure I get all the supplies I need managing all the paperwork Medicare and insurance requires.
My nurse practitioner who works with me on managing the pump has her own opinion about the pump settings based on her technical knowledge which is different than what I do with my settings based on living with them. She has thru the years learned to respect what I do and is surprised with how my settings work. So we are now at peace.
Both very supportive.
I answered “Other.” You are asking about my feelings about my healthcare provider’s understanding of my daily challenges? I have no feelings about what my healthcare provider understands. I cannot know what she understands about my daily challenges.
My opinion is that my provider is very knowledgeable in the field of Endocrinology. She provides me the information I need to continue dealing with my disease. She occasionally provides information about new technologies and treatment, as I also provide her with information that I have found . She has no awareness of my “daily challenges,” or the thousands of other patients she sees. And, I am unaware of her daily challenges.
I hope this is an appropriate response to your question.
The last two providers I’ve had, that have spanned over 25 years, have both also had T1D. They didn’t share much personal stuff beyond the fact that they had diabetes and what technology they used, but it was comforting to know they were experiencing the same challenges as me.
My endo also has T1D. He is a full professor and does lots of research on T1D. I’m very fortunate to have had him as my doctor since 1993.
How can someone without the disease really understand what it is to live with it? I have never had a doctor with T1D in 60 years.
None of my endocrinologists or NPs have had T1D but I always discuss my challenges and they are incredibly helpful. What I always find astonishing is they are constantly amazed at how well I’m doing even when i don’t think I’m doing that well because most of their patients have nowhere near the A1c’s I’m able to achieve. And just hovers in the 6’s!
My endo is young, very empathetic, thorough, always asks for my input, and does research. I am blessed too. have him, and the one before for over 25 yrs.
Yes. However, for those of you who assert, “It takes one to know one,” the same might be said of age. Geriatrics is a marvelous array of marvels.
Mine acknowledges the struggles and challenges that go along with managing T1D in my daily life. She gives suggestions as to what may or may not help and has often asked me I how I handle situations so she can give suggestions to other T1D patient’s.
My endo has T1D
I am an RN. Been going to same doctor for about ten years. Took me six years to train him. I am very well read when it comes to my LADA. He trusts my judgement and gives me excellent parameters to make decisions. Recently had a bad case of Covid. Insulin needs changed dramatically. Getting back to normal but he made sure I had scripts to cover my ups and downs with insulin needs.
Very much so! He is T1D since 15 years of age!
Yes, as well as anyone without T1D can understand.
My current endo is very understanding and seems to get all the struggles. I have had some in the past that thought they were but…actions speak louder
My nurse practitioner understands so much! I really appreciate her.
I think my endo does, though it’s not usually a focus of our discussion, other than the usual variations in highs and lows with no particular pattern and often no identifiable cause. The last time I had an appointment my pump failed at my endo’s office during the data download, and they heard the end of my discussion with customer support to get a replacement. So we had an unplanned discussion logistics for insulin delivery while I waited for the replacement pump, and they rushed through the visit a bit so I could get home to implement Plan B for insulin delivery. My comment was: “welcome to a day in the life of someone with T1D.” They were empathic, but not so much as to prevent thinking through and discussing options.
My PA has had T1D since she was 7, so she definitely understands!
My Diabetes Consultant is new in the post, but she is young and seems to be very up to speed in everything regarding Diabetes, she has a good attitude and is very complimentary towards my good HbA1c results and because I have T1 Diabetes for 53 years now, she says you don’t come with that knowledge and good management process without doing the right things. That compared to the previous Consultant who was older and out of fashion with technologies etc and never complicated the patient when they got things right. Some diabetes care staff including some Doctors still don’t understand how difficult it is for us people with the condition Diabetes to avoid the lows & highs and get the balance right.
My Edro and their staff are very understanding.
We are all so very different, and trying to say that all of us with T1 understand what it’s like for another who has the same hill to climb is unproductive. Having a health care provider with T1 may often be helpful just because there’s apt to be more knowledge
about the specifics. How we respond to the disease is such a personal matter, that I really don’t think there are any guaranteed benefits beyond the grasp of the factual. Finding a doc with the same general attitude about the disease does feel good, and sometimes that’s all I hope for after working hard to make peace with the disease for 70 years.
Asking my doc to “get it” used to be almost my mantra, but I’ve come to realize that the ones who don’t just see us as unruly childrenchildren
One time I was explaining that a new pump would be too expensive at the time because my deductible had just started over.. and she asked if I had insurance and I said yes….. then she said “then it should be free with insurance.” 🤦♀️ She may know a little about the challenges of living with diabetes, but she knows nothing about how insurance works or how costly T1D supplies are.
They know because of working with us. But they personally haven’t experienced it unless they are also type 1. No one can really understand unless they also have type 1.
I’ve seen 5 endocrinologists, 3 general practitioners, 2 eye doctors, 3 educators (or at least nurses in the field). Only 3 times did a physician seem to understand the daily concerns. The first doctor at my diagnosis (25 years ago) admitted no knowledge but “we can learn together.” My eye doctor discussed cravings of food, waking up high or low, and “hiding” diabetes. The doctor at those medical trials. All the others looked at lab works, gave generic “textbook” responses.
Thus I now see a general practitioner now who normally sends all his TYPE 1’s to a clinic, he handles it all.
My current endo seems to understand at least a little better than my previous doctors. The best endo I ever had definitely understood. He had T1D!
Some do, sometimes.
One in a while a sensitive and caring HCP will empathize with kind and reassuring words because some are trained to do that. However, IMHO unless they have T1D themselves most really don’t understand and get it. They can go home at the end of a diabetes care work day, or retire after a career in diabetes health care. They don’t live with it 24/7/365 for the rest of their lives.
My endocrinologist has T1D
I am my own diabetes doc, though I have a PCP. They I need for the rest of my healthcare, not T1D. I think it is impossible for someone who does not either have T1D or live w someone who has T1D to fully grasp the lived experience it entails. But those HCP’s that listen and engage can offer meaningful help and advice.
My endo not so much – I like him and I feel like he’s the most up to date on the technology compared to other endo’s I’ve had, but I don’t feel like empathy is there. My diabetes educator though is a T1D herself so I really feel like she gets it!
I would not be surprised if my endo or any other doctor treating me felt frustrated with me or other T1Ds. I would not be surprised if they blew off steam by secretly making disparaging or sarcastic comments. There are reckless T1Ds in complete denial of their condition. When an occasional patient comes along who’s well-informed and well controlled, the doctor may be defensive. I noticed this when I brought in an extensive study showing the risks of taking daily baby aspirin outweighed the advantages. But after reading the medical journal article online, the doctor stopped prescribing it for me.
Never even gets discussed. I am controlled with A1C 5.7-6.2, no other health issues although I have gone on a statin recently and cholesterol dropped from 226 to 133. Last labs showed hypothyroidism so I expect I’ll get medication for that next week. Since I feel I am under control and am very active in my own health decisions, I don’t feel stressed about it and don’t feel a need to talk to him about it. I am blessed: fairly good genes, weight under control, good job, good health coverage, no money concerns, therefore, worry us at a minimum. I don’t have children. I feel for everyone with many stressors. I’m sure having T1D along with even 1 other issue can be difficult.
Nurse Practitioner 100,000%. The doctor, not a freakin clue (on any level).