Bouncing Back From a Bad Endocrinologist Appointment | She's Diabetic

A bad Endocrinologist Appointment can really knock the wind out of your sails. Suddenly this condition that you live with 24/7 is on full display to a professional that holds a lot of power, both practically with the direction of your medical care, and emotionally in terms of how they express their advice and instruction.

Personally, I can feel quite overwhelmed and anxious going into these appointments. And for the most part the Endocrinologists I’ve come into contact with have been ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. But over 20+ years of living with this condition I’ve had a few appointments that have left me feeling awful. And when one of those comes along, this is my MO for dealing with the aftermath and how I move forward in a positive trajectory.

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[Atrus]

If I didn't need an insulin prescription every few months because my life depended on it I would probably never see an endocrinologist. 😂

[suzannemente]

My poor daughter (16 and full of hormones) sat crying in the hospital car park once, refusing to go in. Major anxiety of being judged and misunderstood as a teen with T1. Needless to say, I then went looking for a female endo who was way more understanding to the trials and tribulations of a being a teen, and then diabetes on top. Broke my heart.

[davebiggins]

Here in the UK, I was fortunate to be looked after by a specialist nurse who was also T1. It makes a world of difference. A tip she gave me when I was worried about occasional high blood glucose was, "This life is not a rehearsal, and s**t happens, you've been a T1D for 40 years. Trust yourself a bit more"

[sharrietech]

I had an endo whom I loved. He was treating me for Hashimoto. I am 67. I had symptoms of LADA last August (weight loss, thirst etc.) I called to get an earlier appointment and was told he was out of the country and to see my primary. This is not the first time he wasn't there for me. Luckily I was able to find a new endo right away and she diagnosed me with LADA very quickly (she did the blood panels). FF I am now on the Omnipod 5. At my last appointment my new endo said "You are doing a very good job taking care of your body". I am so grateful to have found her.

[Timmy]

Most T1Diabetics are their own best endocrinologist. If your endocrinologist makes you feel like a failure it is a person issue in my book. I would look for another endocrinologist.

[alohayoutube]

Hi Andrea, thanks for keeping us up to date with your journey. Your videos are always inspiring.

[greenie]

I've always felt super secretive about treating myself after an endo appointment. To hear you talk about it makes me feel like, oh wow. It's not just me.

[cjMbuck]

Dr. Peter Attia Drive Podcast #40 with Jake Kushner M.D. discusses at one point the depression and anxiety linked to T1D due to the volatility of b.g. and the way endos attempt to make treatment and diet a cookie cutter process. Even myself, as a T2D who manages to keep it in the pre-diabetic range with oral meds and diet, the frustration is often there. Sometimes you just have bad days. Then the cortisol release from that makes it worse. Thanks for what you bring here.

[kathleenmccauley]

I love your videos because you let us know we are not alone. As a type 1 and having to see an endo every three months, I have had plenty of them where I’m crying on the car ride home. I guess it’s because we are trying so hard to do our best, and a callous comment, or even lab values that don’t match how hard we are working to stay in range, can hurt so much. Thank you for sharing and educating and letting us know we are not alone.

[terryorourke]

I've lived with T1D for over 40 years. You are so far ahead of my emotional journey. Your emotional IQ regarding diabetes reminds me that developing this intelligence is not a function of time. Congrats on your honest and fearless attitude! You honor the acknowledgement of reality of T1D while still protecting the essential core of who you are. You are decades ahead of me!

[darlarainford]

I just recently stumbled across your channel. I enjoy your upbeat energy and your positivity and I am looking forward to watching more of your content! I wanted to mention that I have been diabetic for about 12 years and I see an endocrinologist regularly but when I get in a cycle that things aren't going well and I feel really stuck it has been helpful to make an appt with my diabetes educator. She often approaches things in a different way from my endo and/or explains things with a different voice that feels less cookie cutter and/or judgmental. She will also intercede for me with my endo when I am having trouble communicating directly with him because we just seem to have different communication styles. I am currently on my fourth endocrinologist and that has been a common theme with all of them!

[Sean-uzlt]

Very well said and mature. Even doctors who can’t relate or have a bad bedside manner is still a good resource not to ignore.

I’ve appreciated your videos addressing the psychological aspects and finding a community who can relate. I’ve had type 1 for 22 years. Just the last year I’ve reached out to more type 1 and it has helped. The community part helped me get out of a dark hole, and encouraged me to try new tools to make living with T1D easier.

So thanks.


What I have learned and my wife who is a nurse as taught me.

Doctors treat diseases not people or lifestyle, most of them. Nurses are trained to treat the patient. Each of them can only treat some aspects of type 1 which is a disease and a lifestyle.

Not that all doctors don’t care, they only really get to see you 1 hour out of 2, 200 hours from the last 3 months.

So doctors ask about carb ratio so they can adjust the prescription for the insulin. Doctor stuff, and quick enough to do during the office visit. They don’t usually ask if you have been counting carbs correctly or pre-bolus, lifestyle and diet stuff, Way more time consuming.

Type 1 tools are also developing fast. It is hard for anyone person to stay current.

So I have found it is good to supplement the doctors work with research and classes from diabetes educators or dietitians. Every few years, 5ish, to help get me out of bad routines I don’t notice or things I forgot. Even to catch up on new developments in treating T1D.

[emilyschultz]

T1D for 41 years here. After having a baby, the doctor at the hospital took me off insulin! He must've thought I had gestational diabetes. I had no advocate and had to fight the system to get my insulin back. The staff referred me to psychological care because no one believed me. I've shed many tears from doctors. Thank you for your stories. I have plenty of stories too. Some doctors are just overworked and don't listen. I told one Dr that their textbook learning didn't match real life.

[zachazlett]

I avoided an endocrinologist for several years because I’ve never heard of one that doesn’t talk down to their patients.

I finally went to one a few months ago and was treated like total garbage until they found out I was actually a type 1. Now they jump through hoops for me. It’s sad and crazy.

[stevereuter]

Four years ago, I was straying from taking good care of my Type 1 Diabetes. I was working 12 hours a day 6 days a week that lasted a year and I did not make the time to care for myself. One of my A1C tests during that time was 13%‼️ I asked my primary care for some advice / direction and he gave me a referral to see the endocrinologist who practiced in the same clinic as him and to see a diabetic dietitian who was also in the same clinic. This turned out to be a Yin and Yang experience for me. The endocrinologist was a very mean person and treated me as if my appointments with her were interrupting her from doing something more important. Her nurse was also very short with me. I quit seeing her after just two appointments. However, the diabetic dietician was one of the nicest persons who I ever met. She was very patient with me and understanding of what I was going through. I saw her for several months. Unfortunately, she retired. So, I went back to my primary care doctor for my diabetic checkups.

[darstar]

I’m not diabetic but I have other chronic illnesses, and I just wanted to say this channel has been really helpful, even for me. Thank you!

[craigmelissa]

I have had one Endo almost kill me when I was first diagnosed and then the next was just the best and treated me properly.
Be careful out there guys....

[glenngardin]

Greetings from Canada, Andrea! I was diagnosed a little over a year ago, by my family doctor. One day after retiring at age 57. Total shock, to say the least. Within a week, I had and endo and a coach. Both are fantastic. Been told that I'm doing well, but it is a full time commitment. Thank you for you posts. Look forward to hearing your journey.

[Cosmere_Dragon]

My favorite endocrinologist was diabetic herself with an insulin pump. Her suggestions were invaluable because she understood the struggle first hand.

[auswalker]

Thanks for your reinforcing support Andrea. I recall making a comment many years ago when you spoke about a doctor who questioned your number of finger prick tests: "You can't manage what you don't measure". I find that with modern technology, especially CGMs, having a measure of Time in Range and seeing the graphs on my T:slim X2 is very re-assuring. When I am concerned about some high readings and then finding that my Time in Range is good I am immediately re-assured that I am doing OK.