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For how many years have you been going to the health care practice where you currently receive your T1D care?
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I have been seeing the same provider for 20-30 years, but in that time she has been with 3 practice/ hospital systtems, the most recent change about 3 years ago.
Over 30 years. It is incumbent upon practices or hospitals to accumulate data and improve patients’ experiences.
Physicians, like patients, come and go. But an organization that generates, accumulates, and aggregates data and continually improves patient outcomes, is an aspired reference group. ᕙ(の_の)ᕗ
I was diagnosed about a year ago but already switched endocrinologists. I believe my current doctor is a good fit and anticipate staying with her for a long time.
Not the same physician, but the same practice (an HMO).
Hmmm…T1 has probably taught me to value routine and consistency, so I have been with my endo practice for 20+ years.
I moved here just over 10 years ago. I’ve been going to the same hospital/dr’s office since I moved here. Then the During that time, they have assigned me 4 different practitioners. The first 2 were Endocrinologists (doctors), the last 2 have been ARNP’s. I only saw the 2nd Endo/dr. one time. The vast majority of the time, I have seen the ARNP’s. I felt that the ARNP’s were both better at helping me than the doctors were.
I moved 3 1/2 years ago. I’ve had the same Endocrinologist since being here. Prior to my move I wasn’t seeing one even though I had T1D for over 55 years.
I started going to my current practice when I was 18. My doctor has since retired but I continue to see the DA who became more knowledgeable than him in the most recent years. I also took a break in my mid-twenties when my insurance required me to stay in network. That doctor knew so little about diabetes that he was reading how to manage diabetes from a medical volume as I was sitting in the room. He put me on an insulin that made me break out in boils. Horrible experience.
Madison has 3 HMOs, two of which are loosely joined. I have been bouncing between them, hoping to find a doctor willing to deal with my reality for the last 18 years. Start a new endocrinologist next week. If this doesn’t work, I may need to go out of Wisconsin. Scoliosis and LADA
Way back in 1979, my PCP told me to go to several endocrinologists & then determine which one was the best for me. At that time, I knew that a medical center near my home would allow me to see any different specialist that I might need in the future. Also continuity of care would work so they could read the same information in the days before computers!
Oregon Health and Science University, OHSU, is, as the name implies, a teaching hospital. I was referred to my current endo by a local doctor over 25 years ago when he said he had no idea how to treat me. My endo is now the head of endocrinology and an excellent doctor.
My endo is one of the top diabetes endos in the region. I started going to him when I moved to my current city.
38 years and have moved away and back here finally after retirement. I like the then modern things they did and now still do as advances have been made in caring fir the diabetic.
Less than one year because the endo that I saw for 15 years retired.
Have had our ups and downs. Have had to be an advocate for myself. In a good place now
Moved or I would still be with my original Endo I took myself to a year after being diagnosed and treated as a T2. I was really LADA T1. Only with this one because convenient. When I retire, I might look for one who is a better communicator.
Even though I’ve had Type 1 for 35 years I only saw an endo for the first time (since diagnosis) in 2005. I was very happy going to that hospital but in 2021 they went out of network with my insurance I had to go somewhere new. In 2022 they’re back in network but my endo retired! The NP is still there so I will continue to see her. The endo I saw in 2021 is good but I prefer my original practice/location more.
Same doctor but he changed clinics so I moved with him. Been seeing him almost 10 years.
After having been 13 years with my old endo, I switched to a new one this spring. Last June, I began having issues with my Day 3 insulin absorption. Specifically, the last half of Day 3 yielded higher glucose levels despite using up to 33% more insulin with no appreciable changes in carbohydrate intake or illness or stress. I’ve always rotated my sites among different body areas but have been Type 1 since 1976 and pumping since 2011. My old endo’s case notes were insufficient for Medicare to authorize site changes more frequently than every 3 days, despite repeated attempts. If I were to change earlier than every 3 days, I would run out of cartridges and infusion sets due to Medicare’s “rationing” approach and failure to consider that some sites may need to be changed earlier.. I took to supplementing my pumped insulin with injections during the last half of Day 3. I am currently in the process of trying to get Medicare -approval for site changes every 2.5 days via my new endo. (Believe me, if I could make the site last the full 3 days, I’d be jumping for joy!)
I also have problems with the third day of a pump site but it isn’t every time. I sympathize with your frustration and wish you good outcomes in reaching out to Medicare.
have been with mine for all 19 years as a T1D. within the last year, I asked him if he planned on retiring anytime soon and he told me that he didn’t! very happy about that.
I’ve been with mine for 26 years of my 50 years of diabetes. (I’m telling everyone about my 50 year anniversary… even strangers in parking lots… I get odd looks sometimes.) ;p
Although, my doctor is retiring this year, so things are about to change… eep! I have gotten a few names, so I can choose and I anticipate I will get a great new doctor and PA soon. 😀
See my note to Lynda !!
50 is a biggie. No matter whether it’s age, marriage longevity, or diagnosis. Celebrate. You’re worth it. ＼（Ｔ∇Ｔ ）／
I will be “celebrating” my 69th anniversary on a few days. I have retired 5 endo’s but have been with the same clinic for the past 30 years.
WOW, Lynda !!! 69 years for me also !!! I just turned 90 years OLD !!!! NO T1D problems !!! I like to say this to make the newbies feel hopeful !!!
I have been going to my same diabetes specialist for over 42 years. I get excellent care there. He is also my primary doctor so I have one stop shopping. Unfortunately he will be retiring in a year. I will look for a younger doctor in his practice which he stared and hope I get as good care.
I have been with my current endocrinologist for 32 years now. I’ve had to try other’s due to insurance with different job’s, but I’ve never found another one that I work with so well. I’ve always come back after a visit or two and paid out of pocket if I had too. Before being to see her, I saw the same attending pediatric endocrinologist since 6 months after my diagnosis in Jan. 1982; I only left because they said I was too old to be seen there any more.
I think 24 yrs. My first endo unfortunately stopped seeing patients but remains on consult. My new endo as of several years is at same practice. So far so good. The same great nurse practitioner has helped with the transition.
Oops! Huge math error. It’s 44 yrs!
I began seeing my Endo since around 2005, when my primary physician referred me to him for diabetes and thyroid care. He is an excellent Dr. and his staff and nurse practitioners and PAs are awesome. I have been a pump patient since around 2006, and I am going to begin using the t slim x2 pump in just a few days. I’m really looking for a pump that will communicate with my Dexcom 6. I like the fact that my blood sugar is read automatically with that every 5 minutes, and am hoping to have much better control of this monster with this new pump. I’ve had type 1 diabetes since I was 14 years old, and am now 77.
It took a number of years to find the ‘right fit’, and I did this by asking others, I knew to be diabetic, who their endocrinologist was, and whether they liked them or not. Then got a referral, and have been with this same doctor for over 11 years now.
My END just left her practice (to do research), so I’m without one until I establish care with my new one in August. I was with this last one for 4 years this time, but she was my 1st END when I was diagnosed in ’93 (so roughly 9yrs overall). In between, I was with my prior doc for 10+ years. My two endocrinologists were pretty great, they just moved on to other things, or out-of-network practices. Hopefully my new one will stay put – and that I like her!
I recently got a new insurance plan and had to change doctors. So far, I like my new endo and will probably stay with him.