Do you have the resources you need?

[RyanNorthwood]

When you are newly diagnosed with diabetes, did you find that you had access to the information you needed?

I suppose it depends on your particular healthcare provider, but did you feel that you received enough information about your condition?

Thanks,

Ryan

[mizpurple]

I definitely did NOT automatically get the information I needed. Things started off very badly for me about 18 months ago. My type 1 diabetes was brought on as a side effect of the immunotherapy I received for ovarian cancer (the therapy DID take out the cancer but it also mistakenly targeted first my thyroid and then the beta cells in my pancreas). So as a new type 1 diabetic at the age of 61, I felt frustrated and powerless. I spun my wheels for several months under the care of an endocrinologist who had never seen a case like mine and who seemed to find it hard to help me. After a particularly bad visit where I felt blamed and shamed and came away in tears determined never to return, I found a diabetic educator/specialist who works as part of my primary care physician's practice group. She too had never seen a case like mine, but she heard my frustration and anger and gave me the help and support I desperately needed to figure out what worked for me. I consulted with her by phone on a weekly basis and she adjusted my meds based on my numbers ( I would send her a little spreadsheet with my glucose readings before our chat) until I got to a good level of control. Now I just check in with her if I'm in difficulties or have a question. I'm not exaggerating when I say that she saved my sanity that first year - I was heading for full blown depression and she turned me around. In my opinion, beyond basic information about YOUR specific situation, a new diabetic would be best served by having someone like that - someone who you can check in with frequently at first as you learn to manage and who can tweak your meds appropriately and advise you so you can quickly start having success. I hope you can find a person like that to help you! Keep asking questions and seek help that is truly helpful! All the best - Deb in Colorado

[RyanNorthwood in reply to mizpurple]

Thank you

[Ferbrizo]

T2D Healthline is a very cool diabetes community they are actively encouraging people to stay in track check them out. I got my diabetes under control and they encouraged me for the best. They have an app like this one but more balanced.