Hello!

Hi Guys,

I’m Cherie, your new Diabetes notes blogger.  I’ve had Type 1 Diabetes for about 20 years and am a strong advocate for great care and research.  I can’t wait to share news and updates with you, and hope to get your feedback on what you’d like going forward in this blog. 

To give you some of my background, I thought I’d tell you about my diagnosis.  When I was in my early 20s I felt lousy.  I went to the doctor and he rudely told me that I was a young girl and there was nothing wrong with me.  I insisted that he at least take some blood work.  I knew there was SOMETHING wrong with me but I didn’t have any inkling that it would be diabetes.  I worked out constantly and never had a low-blood episode.

After the blood work came in, he never called me with the results.  I finally called and he wouldn’t speak to me, instead he shouted to his nurse, “Tell her she’s a young girl and she’s fine.” 

The nurse said to me, “You’re the diabetic, aren’t you?” 

I was shocked.  Diabetic?   No, I said.

She scheduled an appointment for me anyways, despite what the doctor said.  When I came in, he STILL insisted there was nothing wrong with me.  When I told him the nurse had called me “the diabetic,” he told me to ignore her because she is “just his assistant.”

And that was my first introduction to some of the health care professionals you meet when you’re diabetic.  I went to another doctor shortly after this episode, and he immediately ran blood work and confirmed that I was diabetic.  I’ve been his patient ever since.

Diabetes can be a struggle for many reasons.  Healthcare people that are uninformed or rude are just one aspect.  I don’t think people always understand how arguing with insurance or pharmacies can weigh on your mind when you’re diabetic.  And that’s not including testing or injections.  We diabetics deal with a lot.

So let’s talk about some of the stuff we deal with going forward.  I’m going to give you some updates but what I hope to achieve is great conversation.  Go ahead and comment.  Argue with me.  Agree.  Tell a joke.  Share your experience.