18 Comments
Does your T1D healthcare provider inform you about new devices and therapies available to you?
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I’m often aware of new devices and treatments before I hear about them from Diabetes team
This, my friends, is another issue with Healthcare in the USA. We are part of a assembly line. I always bring up new devices and research results because they have no time for that. It is not their fault and I have gained a ton of knowledge and my numbers are better with my current Endo but they have no time for details, they have a patient quota to meet.
Yes we share ideas and products with each other. She is aware of the mainstream products and research and I am familiar with the DIY products
I am the one that typically brings up other pumps and other technologies, and my endo then tells me his thoughts. I think he assumes that I have certain limitations on what I can use because of Medicare’s rules so he doesn’t try and sell me on things.
Except for my first pump in 1995, when I had never even known I about insulin pumps, I have always told my endo about new things I wanted to try, from Cozmo, Animas, and Tandem pumps to Dexcom to the InPen, and now back to Tandem with Control IQ, it has all been me doing the research.
I am very fortunate that the endocrine NP I see for diabetes care is on top of things. It also helps that I am a RN, CDCES with a clinical specialty in diabetes care and education. Between the two of us we keep up with the ever changing landscape of advances in therapies and technology for diabetes care.
Since I am a 73 year old with LADA and am not technology savy, I still do MDI. But I have learned the Abbott Freestyle Libre and use it day and night constantly. My endo team says as long as your A1C is acceptable and the graphs on the reader are acceptable, we stay with the same routine of Humalog and Lantus, MDI.
I have but two requirements for all of the high-priced specialists I have on a full employment program ā One, that they practice evidence-based medicine (this is the 21st century after all) and, Two, that they be reasonably current in the state of the art of whatever their specialty is (most are excellent at this). Empathy is not on the list. Caring is not on the list. A sense of humor is not on the list. But most physicians tend to have these including a keen interest in listening. ā
He knows about them but I usually ask about them before he does. Once in a while I mention something he doesn’t know about he always researches it we discuss.
Iām very up to date on new tech. Iām often the one to introduce my care team about new products and therapy options. I do wish they were more up to speed at times and able to help me with the new products Iām taking. Usually Iām the one educating them. Loving Inhaled Insulin! But Iām navigating it on my own…
My Endo is the best. I fear the day he retires.
My diabetes nurse practitioner/CDE is good about bringing up new and upcoming technology, my endo not so much.
Never. I am always the one to bring in the suggestion, āI would like to try this.ā
Sometime yes, she will introduce new technology, new study results and in other appointments I’ll be the one to ask what her thoughts are re. new devices and/or studies. That continued exchange was one of the aspects of the healthcare partnership I asked her to sign-on to in our “meet and greet” first appointment 7 years ago. In addition to this endocrinologist I also have access to a fantastic CDE who is very tech savvy and makes a point of keeping herself informed on new devices and research studies. They’re a valuable healthcare resource.
My previous endo (who retired the end of last year) was good at bringing things up to me and could talk about things I might have brought up to her. Iām sure it helped that I went to a Diabetes Care Clinic at a university hospital. Now however, I have to see an endo generalist that only treats people with diabetes. Iāll have to interview her at my first appointment. Iām glad that I have found different ways to learn more about technology and treatment trends in T1 diabetes care.
Iām not sure yet. My doctor is new to me. One in person visit and one telehealth visit. I think she will though if my instinct is correct.
My endo has often mentioned new devices and therapies which he thinks will assist me with treating my diabetes. I see him twice a year; the last two visits were tele-medicine and it seemed like there was not much time for that sort of discussion.
I have always been aware of new devices and therapies. Historically it has been me who has brought it up.