I have been caught out by similar doctors, and there are plenty of narratives from others. Here's my
dubious input on the matter -
My opinion is that many if not most doctors look at their job in a similar vein to other jobs - to
make money; lots of money. In many cases there is a certain level of dedication to provide patient
care, but problems arise for the patient when the doctor puts the priority on making money ahead of
the priority of caring. dedication to healing involves maintaining a high level of up-to-date
knowledge on medicine, and this involves a lot of effort - usually unpaid effort such as reading
books and other literature as well as
dollars per hour (or minute?).
I have come across all types of doctors - those who think of their hip pocket, those who care, and
those who combine the two to provide excellent care. The problems that doctors treating diabetics
have is that to provide top care the doctor needs to keep very much up-to-date with diabetes
management, which has undergone some huge changes in the past few years. Unfortunately it is still
possible (very likely) to find a doctor whose diabetes management education dates back to the time
when he got his doctorate, say 1956 or something like that, and hasn't bothered to get any more
recent knowledge.
On top of all that, as someone put it, doctors - even the caring ones - have to put up with complete
moron patients. Those who are told, and who know that they have to change their lifestyle to cope
with their disease, but do not, indulging and living it up right up until they get their multiple
bypass, or lose their toes, or get a stroke. It must be frustrating for the doctors to see that
happen no matter what they say.
It has been said many times on this newsgroup that with diabetes you have to be partly your own
doctor. Although you do have to seek medical advice, especially with the initial diagnosis, you
should never entrust yourself completely to any doctor without doing your own research. This applies
to most other diseases and ailments. The Internet is a powerful tool in the hands of a thinking and
intelligent victim of a disease. With moderate effort he or she can wield as much information as the
best doctors. They can talk to doctors on an even basis.
I have gone to doctors who, although not yet attuned to the power of the Internet, respect my
knowledge because of it. They often admit when they don't know the answer to something. I admire
people like that. I also admire those doctors who have discovered the internet, and who have decided
to learn from it and then share their own learning with others who are willing to listen. Of course
Dr. William Biggs comes to mind (I've missed his posts - where is he?).
Sorry for the long note. Have to have one occasionally.....
Henry
"Ken Bessler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...
Quoted message said:My blood sugar was rising so I went to my GP. He said don't worry just take your glucophage. Three
weeks later I went back with a blood sugar of 600! He said "don't worry - just keep taking your
glucophage".
I left the exam room and proceeded to walk to the front door. The GP said "wait - don't you want
to schedule a follow up?"
I chuckled a bit as I closed the door in his face.
Found a new GP who immediatley admitted me to the hospital and started me on insulin. He also
started me on 40 hours of diabetes classes and sent me to a endocrinologist who showed me the
low carb way of eating. I'm also excercising and loosing weight. According to my meter, my
average BG is 130.
That was 1 year ago. I saw a sign in my old GP's office window last month as I drove by. It said
"CLOSED".......
Thank god that moron is out of buisness....
Ken
