My friend, who was diagnosed with diabetes just a few months ago, called me last night in tears. She was at her doctor's office and there are a few doctors who share the office. Her numbers were high that day because she's been very upset about her son who has been acting up.

She heard one doctor in the hallways outside the waiting room talk to her doctor and say that a patient of his in the hospital with dangerously high blood sugar. The doctor said that the patient must have over eaten. Then he said, "Well that'll teach him to have dessert." And then he laughed.

My friend was so upset that any doctor could be that nasty to say that it served anyone right to be hospitalized, and that it sounded like he was taking for granted that the man had overeaten.

I tried to explain that there are a lot of people out there who don't realize that high blood sugars happen because of lots of things, but she's hurt that anyone, especially a doctor can laugh and think "it serves him right," to be sick.

She's new to diabetes and is sensitive about having it. What else can I tell her to reassure her that not everyone is as stupid as that doctor.

yes doctors are jerks! un sympathetic fops who feel the need to be A holes at every turn.
I empathize with her and you.
being diabetic is a whole new exerience for friends and family, but its a positive change eventually.

She has a way to lodge a complaint, if she so wishes as to what transpired. the doctor will get a dressing down and repremand to behave ina more professional method. she contacts teh medical licensing board of her state and city if there is one and the AMA to see if hes registered. If he is she can loadge a complain for his conduct.
While she may feel victimized and not want to do, it would be a positive thing to do and actually make her feel better. She a can also request through the director of her clinic or sub director of her clinic to have a different doctor.

Let her know that there are diabetics out here and joing in ADA will help. They have all kinds of local support groups and connections.

She is not alone. I am willing as who has a teen ager to be an ear if she would like. Or theer are others on this board who also would lend a shoulder.

Down here doctors are banal, so we ahve the opposite, often diabetes goes untreated and pateints go themputation routes over and over again.......
I ahve fallen off teh wago too this week....... but I can jump back on.......
The main ting is that she know that npot everyone is like this, and taking care of yourself is important so you can handle what comes up.

julie

Unfortunately, you have many people out there who are insensitive to other people's feelings. I am not surprised that a doctor said something of that nature. All you can do is ignore and keep living.

My friend is feeling better now. I think she was just amazed that a doctor could be so callus about a disease that is still new to her. Since that day her own mother told her that since she is the only diabetic in their family, that it muse be because she liked sweets as a kid. Almost like a light going off, she understood that her being sick is a shock to her mother who is afraid for her and that it's now up to my friend to teach her mother about diabetes.

I was so proud of her. She's just bought her first diabetes magazine and has subscribed to it. She want to educate herself in order to teach her Mom and others who might not know about the disease.

I also hinted to her that her son might be acting up because he doesn't understand how she is sick. I don't know about any articles or sites that are geared to help a diabetic's kids to understand the disease, so if anyone knows where she can get more information I'd appreciate it. I also told her about this site and I think, when she's ready, she'll start to come here too!

when i was a DE, we had ot deal with things like this.
What we did was get the entire family into a Diabets education class. Theya re available usually free or a nominal cost at the local hospital.
these are oh so important to attend. As theye xplain so much in simplistic terms and get the family involved.
Education and knowledge is power and make sthe disease less scary.

One thing I noticerd was how easy teh mother was to blamer her eating sweets as kid for diabetes.
While this mightbe so.. I doubt that has to do with her current condition. there is always atrue trigger in adult life that makes for the change from non diabetic to true diabetic.

Some its acr accidents, inoculation, other conditions( like gall bladder, appendicitis, car accidents, wrong birth control pills, contaminated pills, IUDs, anything that can disrupt the system in anegative manner woudl ahve an effect to cause diabetes or related diabetic syndrome. Even disease like Lupus) etc.
That statement made me think the mother didnt want to take responsibility for the diet fo her daughter. Pass teh balme.
Bravo to your friend for making the first steps after being diagnosed.
In my next post is alist of online resources. I also have a game from teh strabright foundation that I might be able to make a copy of. Its an interactive PC game.

Youth Zone Home - Youth Zone (for children with or affected by diabetes) - American Diabetes Association
This is a place by the ADA for kids......... a boat load of information. If possible she may even be able to order a wizdom kit. I know she can get one for herself........

children with DIABETES Online Community
thsi is an awsom site for anyone with diabetes and family members who want to learn how to help and be better prepared
I love this site...........

Joslin Diabetes Center
This is out of Harvard medical xCenters.. awsome and even online classes
I got othe onlibne calsses every three months. and got the free books.

Diabetes | Type 1 Diabetes | Type 2 Diabetes
wonderful online community
I like this one!

Diabetes Monitor
havent been here in a while..............

You can teach a person lots of stuff, but you cannot teach empathy. Those doctors that have it are excellent doctors, but they are hard to find.

I had something similar to this happen and it made me so mad I switched doctors. Ok, it was a little worse, but you get the point. Thing is, you don't have to stay with a specific doctor, you have the right to find one that you are comfortable with.