Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to despair of medic's not understanding Type 1 Diabetes

161 replies

Scaramoose · 19/09/2018 12:02

I need to vent.

I am a Type 1 diabetic. I have no complications despite having it for almost 40 years, I am not overweight and my blood sugars / cholesterol etc are all in the target range.

Since DS has been born six years ago, and also during my pregnancy where I had a lot of appointments, I have been given advice such as: I only need to test three times a day (during pregnancy - this would have been seriously dangerous) and anything more is 'pointless', been informed that I would need to be weighed again as I 'may no longer be diabetic' and been advised to 'ensure my child eats healthily so he too doesn't become diabetic' and, yesterday, asked if I 'have considered taking diabetes medication'.

AIBU to expect someone giving medical advice to a) read my notes b) understand my notes and c) not automatically assume I am a Type 2 diabetic which is very different to Type 1 and d) not to give out advice if they are not sure what they are talking about?

OP posts:
kikibo · 19/09/2018 12:09

I would definitely point all those out yes. And complain. They could potentially kill my mum a type 1 diabetic who was more careless than you.

RayRayBidet · 19/09/2018 12:10

How would a type 1 no longer be diabetic? Jesus wept op, YADNBU!

UpstartCrow · 19/09/2018 12:12

Yadnbu. It's hardly a rare, esoteric condition.

BishopBrennansArse · 19/09/2018 12:14

Wow. That sort of stuff you'd expect from a lay person in the street not a professional. That's terrifying.

BishopBrennansArse · 19/09/2018 12:14

But whoop for the one who thinks pancreas can start working again spontaneously Hmm

LeeMiller · 19/09/2018 12:15

YANBU! There is a lot of ignorance about Type 1 out there but that kind of dangerous advice from medical professionals is unacceptable and suggests they don't even have a basic grasp of the condition! You should complain (though an immediate relative has Type 1 and I know that constantly correcting people is exhausting).

I always think it's unfortunate that T1 and T2 don't have more different names, as a lot of issues seem to stem from confusion with T2 which is very much in the media spotlight these days.

CadleCrap · 19/09/2018 12:16

I was told by a diabetes educator to not test before meals, and to not have anything apart from water after a meal and test 2 hrs after eating.

I was newly diagnosed and didn’t know any better. I nearly had a break down from continually clock watching after eating.

My doctor nearly took my drivers license away as I said I had had a hypo in the last 6 months. I.e. below 3.9. Arse. I are some jelly beans and was fine

I now do DAFNE and ignore most of the “ experts”

bigsunflower · 19/09/2018 12:17

Fellow type 1 and I feel your pain. Angry I've only had it 17 years and have to explain what type 1 is to so many medical people over the years.... had a gallbladder scan once scanner also scanned liver and says "oh that's strange you haven't got a fatty liver yet you're diabetic" Hmm

Original poster
Scaramoose · 19/09/2018 12:20

To clarify, these comments have been from various dr’s etc, not the same one.

I have corrected people many times have you, and I always tell people I am a “type 1 diabetic’ as opposed to a type 2 anyway, regardless of whether they are somebody I am talking to at a party or a doctor! I understand that there are far more Type II diabetic’s than Type 1 but I don’t think this is a valid excuse.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scaramoose · 19/09/2018 12:21

Frustrating as it is to a lot of us, it is nice to know that I am not the only type one who has had these experiences!

OP posts:
CadleCrap · 19/09/2018 12:22

I met someone recently who was the stereotypical T2 , Fat unfit and over 40.

she was newly diagnosed with “ non insulin dependent diabetes “ and proceeded to tell me how to manage my diet. She then Also told me beer has no carbs. I left her to it and continued drink my lovely carb free wine

CadleCrap · 19/09/2018 12:24

I have started to tell people I have an auto immune condition.

han01uk · 19/09/2018 12:25

I agree! Also type 1 here....
Something that grates on me is the media labelling "diabetes" can be cured with healthy eating blah blah blah. Call it type 2 or give it a sodding different name!!

Digdeep79 · 19/09/2018 12:27

I am also type 1 diabetic, as is 1 of my daughters.

This is one of the things that irritates me most. Also the fact that everyone assumes I am type 2 as that's all they hear about.

When my GP told me that 'it is low blood sugars that are dreadful for your unborn baby, not the high ones', I felt in total despair

Original poster
Scaramoose · 19/09/2018 12:27

I’m so glad I posted! I too have had comments on how I ‘don’t look diabetic” and how raw food can cure me.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scaramoose · 19/09/2018 12:28

Your GP said what?!

OP posts:
Digdeep79 · 19/09/2018 12:29

Also, when injecting and the choras of people who say 'Omg I hate injections, I couldn't do that'. Fab, I don't like them much either but it's a life or death choice!

Also when injecting my child 'OMG I couldn't do that to my child'.
Mmmmmm it's not my favourite thing to do to her either but you know, she'd die if I didn't

Original poster
Scaramoose · 19/09/2018 12:29

When I was pregnant I was testing constantly because my normally predictable blood sugar became very unpredictable. I need more strips because she said are you need to test three times a day. She also told me that I was requesting too much insulin. If I decided to take her advice and ignored the advice of my lovely endocrinologist I seriously think that my son would not be here

OP posts:
Synecdoche · 19/09/2018 12:30

YANBU that is shocking

Original poster
Scaramoose · 19/09/2018 12:31

DigDeep I have had that too about injections! Comments about how they just couldn’t do it. I find it irritating, and stupid, and I usually end up showing them the tiny needle I do it with.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scaramoose · 19/09/2018 12:33

Han01 because of everything in the media about “diabetes“ and the obesity epidemic etc I always say type one first. Really I don’t think most people are listening, but it really upsets me to be thought of somebody with a self-inflicted illness that is “so bad she has to inject herself“. Unfortunately I have also had this attitude from healthcare professionals as well as just people I meet

OP posts:
icclemunchy · 19/09/2018 12:33

Also Type 1 and have experienced much of the same.

Although tbh my endocrinologist tole me yesterday that pain has no bearings on BGs I should just eat less if I'm getting random highs and noone uses half units because they couldn't possibly be of benifit to anyone.

If the person who is meant to oversee my care doesn't have a clue I don't see much hope for anyone else!

WreckTangled · 19/09/2018 12:34

Type 1 here too! I was told by a gp that once I had good control I would only need to test first thing in the morning Hmm

abbey44 · 19/09/2018 12:35

Another Type 1 here. The level of ignorance in health care professionals sometimes is bloody frightening. I've heard a lot of these comments over my 25 years with it, and sometimes I just despair. And yes, I wish there were separate names to differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2.

Original poster
Scaramoose · 19/09/2018 12:36

Christ almighty, these are astounding!

OP posts: