An experienced diabetic MUST be more literate than his doctor?

Diabetic experience implies the accumulation of a large amount of knowledge: something from the literature, something from the exchange of experience, but to a greater extent, observation of one’s body. More and more often you can hear from the lips of experienced diabetics “I know more than my doctor” … Self-confidence is one thing, and another thing is when the attending physician echoes: “what are you asking me for. With such experience, they themselves should already know how to be treated.” What to do when such a situation arises?

Of course, one of the main components of successful compensation is extensive knowledge. The doctor’s knowledge, which he passes on to the patient, also points to patient organizations and media, where you can turn to further replenish the database. In a well-coordinated tandem of a doctor-patient, a path to good performance and good health emerges.

After the clinic, the patient enters the information space with many useful articles and tips, but also with the same sea of ​​deceptive materials. And so the average diabetic finds his way through trial and error. And in order to maintain health, minimize sugar surges, and minimize the risk of complications, the patient must constantly educate himself. In some matters, becoming even more knowledgeable than a doctor.

And here it is important to understand:

doctor

His task is to guide the patient, regardless of the experience of the latter. If the patient asks a question, then you need to answer: competently and in a comfortable way. If the patient is uncomfortable with you, he is afraid to ask questions, then reconsider your tactics.

Patient

Of course, over time, you begin to better understand the reactions of your own body.

For example. The doctor advises breakfast with oatmeal, and you know that your sugars fly to heaven from it personally – do not have breakfast with oatmeal.

But the physician in any case has a much greater knowledge of the pathogenesis of the disease, methods of treatment and the process of development of complications. The opinion that the endocrinologist learns everything from books, therefore he does not understand our problems, etc. – malicious. The doctor has an extensive store of knowledge and experience: over the years of study + internship + medical practice.

If you begin to doubt his professionalism or awareness of some new trends, then find another specialist and consult. Compare their advice, take a look from your own experience, talk to other diabetics. Find someone you feel comfortable working with and you can ask questions without fear of a sideways glance.

You MUST be aware and learn responsible self-control. But the situation in which you are FORCED to get all the additional knowledge yourself is wrong.

Here are a couple of tips for you so that there are no problems in communicating with the doctor and you are not left alone with diabetes:

Build your knowledge base and experience: go through a diabetes school, read information on specialized resources, periodically repeat the basic rules, communicate with other diabetics, attend meetings and participate in webinars with doctors (large companies now conduct many such online consultations). In the end, subscribe to a couple of endocrinologists on Instagram.
Stop underestimating doctors and overestimating your own knowledge.
Find “your” endocrinologist. Finding a doctor in any field is very difficult. It’s good if you immediately got a pleasant, competent specialist. But if you are afraid to ask questions or you see that the doctor uses information from twenty years ago and is not interested in somehow developing … run away from such an endocrinologist. Today there are many private clinics, doctors who blog and consult online. You can find a suitable specialist, for whom you will not need to compose an ideal self-control diary and explain under a scorching gaze “what could you do that made sugar so hot”.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If it is not possible to change the doctor, then try to take matters into your own hands. Do not hesitate to ask, do not hide the truth about the state of compensation, do not be ashamed if you do not know something. It’s all right, you’re human.
Share with your doctor what you have learned. Have you read the incredible article-research of the capital’s luminary? Ask for the opinion of your specialist at the reception. It only takes a couple of minutes, appeases your doctor (you are interested in his opinion) and increases the likelihood that the good old local specialist will open a search engine and start raising his awareness.
We don’t play confrontation. Remember that both parties are interested in cooperation.