Getting The Best Treatment

Not everyone is that fortunate. Even if a patient is willing to admit what they're doing is just not cutting it anymore, sometimes it's hard to find a doctor who is informed enough about diabetes and all its different treatment options to get the best care. And/or there are patients who just will NOT consider using any medication that requires an injection, and two injections a day? Or more? Unthinkable. In fact, there are scads of diabetics who won't even do glucose tests because that brief pain when the lancet pierces their skin is just too much for them to bear, either physically or psychologically. But anyhoo, you're right, and you said a mouthful-- there IS good care out there, and any of us can get it, if the sun and moon are in the right phases, the planets are all in alignment, God willin' and the creek don't rise.

I know how difficult it is to become accustomed to injectable medications. A couple years before my doctor put me on insulin, I was worried about sticking myself with needles. The finger sticks once or twice a day were bad enough. Then I saw 10 - 11 year-old kids as local "poster children"/youth ambassadors at the bike-a-thons with such positive outlooks on life in general - just doing kid things and such. I'm 45 years old, don't be such a baby! Turns out, insulin injections, usually in the flehy areas (the belly for me, or even the thighs for those who choose) are almost pain-free. My mom has not taken care of herself, recently having half her leg amputated due to a huge foot ulcer. She was so adverse to shots, that when the doctor gave her a glucose monitor, she would use it once, get a good number and justify herself going back to junk food. Meanwhile, the other 49 test strips sit on the shelf for 18 months and expire. I dread the day a doctor prescribes insulin for her, cuz I'm "going to have to do it for" her. I'm still adverse to needles, though. The insulin is no problem. I do flinch when getting blood drawn for me quarterly checkups and look the other way when donating blood.