Bad doctor?

[joeyhaha]

I've only had diabetes for a year so I'm still learning about the disease. Recently I've found out that consistantly high blood sugar can kill beta cells. When I first found out I had diabetes my PCP was sure that I was a type 2(even though I'm thin) and put me on metformin. My sugar stayed between 250 and 500 for a month. When I went back all she did was up my dosage. My numbers remained that high for another 45 days. When I went back she changed my medication and sent me on my way. This went on for about 5 months with her changing and then upping my dosages and my blood sugar remaining very high. She seemed generally unconcerned about the sugars and it wasn't until my dietician referred me to an endo did I see any difference (he put me on insulin). So my question is: Could her incompetence have directly led to my becoming a Type 1? I forgot to mention that 7 months prior I had my sugar checked during a physical and it was 89 mg/Dl. What do you guys think?

[Scratch]

If you have type 1 as a result of an autoimmune response, then the PCP's diagnosis probably wiped out any sort of extended honeymoon period.

If you have type 1 as defined as complete beta cell death, and you have complete beta cell death because of prolonged high blood sugars, and it's not because of an autoimmune response, then maybe you could say her incompetence caused it.

But I don't think that second scenario is very likely considering the physical and blood sugar at that time.

Her diagnosis was rather poor, but it didn't cause you to get type 1 diabetes.

[LancetChick]

Yes, your doctor is a moron, and no, she is not responsible for you becoming a type 1 diabetic. There is some debate about whether or not normalizing blood sugars right away preserves beta function (extends the honeymoon), but your beta cells will poop out at some point, no matter how much you coddle them. I never had a noticeable honeymoon after diagnosis, and boy was I glad...... constantly having to adjust insulin levels to accommodate declining beta function is not my idea of fun. The real danger of having chronically high blood sugars is developing complications, which can't always be reversed unless you can maintain normal or near-normal blood sugar levels, and that can be very difficult for some people.

[Cyborg]

The GAD Antibody test is a fairly accurate test at predicting the presence of the antibodies that destroy beta cells. If the test is positive, you are probably type 1...

[designdb]

It amazes me how stupid doctors are about diabetes. I'm talking Endos and regular doctors. I wonder where do they go to school. It's a really scary thought, one day I could have a reaction and be out of it for days while a clueless doctor has control of my blood sugars and keeps my at 500 for days - this scares me to death.

[ladytaz]

It amazes me how stupid doctors are about diabetes. I'm talking Endos and regular doctors. I wonder where do they go to school. It's a really scary thought, one day I could have a reaction and be out of it for days while a clueless doctor has control of my blood sugars and keeps my at 500 for days - this scares me to death.

They learned from a $9.99 WalMart Special on some Medical Book about Diabetes, that apparently was written in 1852!! ;)

I agree with ya tho, it is REAL scary when you the patient knows WAY more than the doc!! I THOUGHT that's what THEY went to school for! WE the patient should not be educating THEM! Seems a LOT of 'regular' docs (General and Family Practicians) really don't even have BASIC knowledge about Diabetes! That's just WRONG!

[designdb]

LOL now that's funny.

[designdb]

Yes it is wrong. I was diagnosed in the 70's by a Family doctor, times have changed for the worse in my experiences.

[ladytaz]

yep, yep ... I agree. Sad but true :(