When my doctor told me the diagnosis, he just wrote me a prescription and sent me on my way. He never even said anything about tracking my blood sugar levels, or diet, or exercise, or implications, or ANYTHING. Of course my mom also has diabetes so I had watched her prick her finger for years and knew this was something I should probably start doing myself. So I made an appointment with an Endocrinologist and that is how I came to get my first blood sugar monitor. Of course when my regular doctor found out about it, he was mad that I had gone to someone else... saying he could manage my diabetes himself. But he has never taught me anything. Every single issue we have talked about has been an issue I have raised from things I've learned. Only a year or so ago did I learn that he should be testing my kidney function when another doctor I had gone to see for something else was appalled to learn that he hadn't been doing that.
Several hospitals in my community offer free diabetes education seminars where they talk about EVERYTHING you can imagine having to do with the concerns of diabetes... every aspect from different meds and how they work to foot care and other related health concerns to everything in between. In addition, they usually give out free samples of things like creams for foot care to sugar free samples of products to log books, etc. Very useful seminars!!! I hit them all. And when I see one being advertised, I occasionally still go back to them because they are learning new things about diabetes care all the time! The diabetes magazines can also be helpful. There are several out there.
Be pro-active!! Educate yourself... take your health into your own hands. |