So, I fired my diabetes specialist and stopped taking my insulin.
Ha, ha! No, seriously, here is what actually happened.
When I went to see the diabetes specialist, when she put me on the extra insulin, when it came time to pay the bill, I asked if I could pay it on the 20th April. And the receptionist said
Sure, no problem! A week later, I sent a spreadsheet I've been keeping of my blood sugar levels, what I've been eating, and how much insulin I've been taking. The doctor and I spoke on the phone, discussed my blood sugar levels and she made some tweaks to my medication. All good.
Last week just before Easter, I sent the diabetes specialist an email with an updated spreadsheet, saying that I was having 2 to 3 hypos a day and needed to have the daytime insulin reduced, or maybe even stop taking it completely. (A hypo is when your blood sugar becomes extremely low. Symptoms include excessive sweating, feeling extremely fatigued, dizzy, anxious and nauseous. Some people feel a 'sense of impending doom'. It's very unpleasant.) I explained that I was afraid to exercise because I didn't want to get caught halfway through a long walk and have a hypo. That I was being forced to consume things like juice and other high carb snacks when out and about, in an effort to stave off the hypos. That this was sabotaging my attempts to look after myself with diet and exercise, which is what I should be doing. Also, hello? 2 - 3 hypos a day?? Dangerous!
This doctor has been my diabetes specialist for over 6 years, and I felt we had built up a level of trust. So to get the following email was a bit of a slap in the face.
The Doctor said to reduce your night time insulin by 4 units, but is unable to give you any more advice until you settle your account.
What the actual fuck? My reply was
As discussed, I will settle my account on 20th April. Please cancel my future appointments.
Seriously.
Seriously. Professionalism? Duty of care? Trust? Nope. Also, btw - 4 units of night time insulin is an insignificant piss in the ocean. I did it, but it made no difference.
So I went to my local GP, and asked if she was comfortable managing my diabetes. She said yes, without batting an eyelid. I took scripts of my current medication, the last few weeks worth of spreadsheet, my concerns and ideas. She suggested I stop taking daytime insulin before I'd even had a chance to pitch my case! I'm going back to see her next week and we will talk about stopping or switching up some of the other medication I've been talking.
I've spoken to two diabetes educators and my GP, and they are all astonished that I was even put on daytime insulin injections in the first place. The old diabetes specialist is apparently notorious for being aggressive with insulin, but I honestly don't think it was right for me. Yes I have diabetes and yes, this situation needs to be managed, but I need medical proffesionals I can rely on to help me do just that.
Most importantly, in the end this is my body. MY body. I have to live with this body for hopefully many years to come and I need to make the best decisions for it's health and well being.
My health and well being. The bottom line when it comes to looking after myself, will always rest with me. I'm not a qualified medical professional but I am qualified to make decisions about who I take advice from. Even more importantly, I have the authority to do so.
So, long story short - I fired my diabetes specialist and stopped taking insulin.
xx
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