Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.
She doesn’t “deal” with questions. I just get sent to a “specialist
I have a gynecologist who is very knowledgeable and am happy I do.
Zero time spent. My lips move but my words are ignored. Dyspareunia was diagnosed, then ignored, and cannot be linked to nerve damage because that would reflect badly on them and might result in lower ratings.
The only question I have ever discussed with this endo is how menopause was affecting my blood sugar levels. The answer he gave was a short “stock” answer that, “Yes, it can.” No hints as to how to adapt or adjust my settings. Very unhelpful!
The issues haven’t come up in discussion.
I wish that gyno’s would understand the effects that hormones have on blood sugars near periods, perimenopause, menopause etc. It seems to still be a bizarrely taboo topic and does not seem to be taught with any degree of seriousness in medical schools. When I told my doctor it was affecting my sugars she said she had never heard of that and prescribed anti-anxiety medicine. hormones, testosterone and cortisol (stress) included can absolutely spike blood sugars.
(I should have said gyno’s, endo’s and primary care doctors all need to be more informed on the effects of..)
In over the past 8 years there has been zero mention/question of any gynecological issues. From other conversations we’ve had I know that my endo is very ageist and evidently thinks that at 75 I would have no interest in continuing sexual activity.
Disappointed in mine.
Stopped hormonal birth control, gained 20 lbs, she wanted to put me back on but a different brand just for weight. I said I didn’t like the idea, as I had side effects with the last 2 brands I was on, and explained them. I decided to give it a shot because this was different than previous medications. I only took it a week and had horrible cystic acne break out. Did research on active ingredients to find it was the same as the one I had warned her about that I had problems with. So, no, only talk to your on/gyn, not your T1 doc about meds they know nothing about. As well, I do believe woman have side effects from diabetes too in the sexual category not just men’s dysfunction, but they don’t ever ask or want to talk about that.
My diabetes nurse practitioner acknowledges the challenges I raise with my blood sugars during perimenopause are real and has been trying to help with adjusting my insulin pump settings. She’s awesome, it’s just hard to predict the increasingly unpredictable. Maybe in the future we’ll have continuous monitors that can also measure stress and reproductive hormone levels.
I put somewhat satisfied because I don’t think my diabetes care providers have ever initiated discussions in this area.
My T1D Doctor has never discussed these issues
My endo NP tells me to see the GYN I am associated with because female issues are better served at that office.
Fair
Have not discussed it with him. Gyn only suggested Replenz!
I got type 1 at age 66 so childbearing and menopause were not topics for discussion. I see a gynecologist regularly and have no gynecological problems so I have never had to ask my young male endo about these topics and he hasn’t asked me.
I am satisfied without talking to her about that aspect of my health care because I do have a gynecologist if I have any problems. I could possibly bring this up with my T1 diabetes care person if I had problems, but luckily I don’t.