Doc wants me to take D education class

[Kendall]

I just switched insurance so I met my new GP last week and had lab work done. I had to go see him today because I am sick. He talked to he about the results of my lab work and I'm a little bugged.

First, he said my A1c of 7.3 was fine. I don't know where he went to school, but where I was taught about diabetes, over 7 is no good and the lower the better.

Then, he gave me a hard time about wearing sandals. He says, "You should know better than to be wearing sandals. You have Type 1 diabetes. You should always wear shoes that cover your toes completely." GRRR...I have a history of good control (the last 2 years notwithstanding), I am 25 years old, and have NO neuropathy at all. Maybe I'm stubborn, but it is summer time, over 100 degrees outside, and gosh darn it, I am going to wear sandals. So he gives me a referral to a diabetic foot care class.

Then, he wants to send me to a diabetes education class. I realize that it has been 12 years since I was diagnosed and medicine and technology change, but I had top notch training when I was diagnosed. And up until 2 years ago, I had an amazing diabetes care team. I know I could probably learn a thing or two from a class, but I guess I feel like it would be a waste of time.

I think I have it in my head that I would be surrounded by a bunch of older, overweight people with Type 2 who wouldn't have the slightest idea about Type 1. Maybe I have a superiority complex about it, but Type 1 and Type 2 are totally different diseases in my opinion and because there are fewer of us with Type 1 I feel like we sometimes get overlooked.

And now, I will admit I'm on a little bit of a rant, but type 1 feels a lot harder to me (granted I'm biased) and I don't think most people realize that. My entire adolescence and adulthood thus far have been overshadowed by diabetes and every bite of food, every bit of exercise, every trip away from home has been calculated or else I have had to deal with scary consequences.

I don't want to go to some stupid diabetes education class with a bunch of people who don't understand what I deal with. I don't feel comfortable enough with this doctor yet to tell him that though.

Okay...my rant is over. So, has anyone had experience with diabetes education classes being helpful or not. Was it just for type 1 or both types? If for both, did you feel it was applicable to you? I searched old posts and all the stuff I found was from type 2s.

[orange81bird]

I did the the classes towards the end of last year and I hadn't been to one since dx and that was 17 years ago. Granted I was the youngest one there (25 too) and the only Type 1, I found the classes helpful. I would encourage you to go, if anything it's a good review. There may also be some information that is new to you too!

[Eddy]

My approach thus far: No class. No endo. No insurance. Just research. (And now I hang out too much on DF!)

There was a recent thread on types 1 and 2 that touched on some of the things that you mention. Yes, I empathize with your comments... I get the same level of harassment that type 2 folks get, plus the added "fun" of the comments being all the less accurate.

I'd tell your doctor what you feel. That might be a good test of how willing he is to work with you, as opposed to rote dictation.

My GP lets me do my own thing. He'll check to verify that I'm not going to try anything stupid... but I'm the one who told him about Levemir, then made my case about switching to it from Lantus. He's not a specialist, but is an excellent person with good ethics and reasoning powers.

[teleman]

I haven't been to a Diabetes Ed class in a while but there was always some value in the 3 times I've attended classes.
It is annoying when you've been living with Type 1 for a good part of your life and you have to deal with newly Dxed Type 2s.
You take what you can from these things and go forward with more knowledge.

[Holly]

While I can certainly understand your frustration, think of it as an opportunity to teach the type 2's the tricks that you have learned to master your diabetes and encourage them to accept this disease in terms of how lucky we are in comparison. Remember type 2's have to deal with a lot of public blame for their lifestyle issues whereas type 1's are mostly thought of as having genetic issues. We need all the help and understanding we can get too.

[lilituc]

I have an endocrinologist to manage my diabetes. Most of the GPs I've had have either admitted they didn't have the knowledge to do so, or said they did and then later I found out they didn't. My current doctor is in internal medicine and probably could help, but he still prefers having the endo (as do I).

Does your pump have the original software or new software? Just getting the new model (with the new software) might make a big difference for you.

[kgm0612]

When I was first dx'd 5 years ago, I attended diabetes classes. They were somewhat helpful, but to be honest, I've learned more about diabetes on this forum than from anywhere else.

Karen