"Very Poor" Diabetes Control

I awoke this morning to a message from my primary care doc. The tests showed no infection, but a blood glucose level of 345 and an A1C of 8.5. She informs me that 8.5 is "very poor glucose control", and advises me to make an appointment with an endocrinologist.

Since I was just getting out of bed and grumpy, I momentarily questioned whether I should keep this woman as a doctor. I know 8.5 is not a good number by any standards, but it's actually better than what I was expecting. At my worst, sometime in late high school or early college, my A1C was once 10.5 or something like that, maybe even 11. (Snarky Author's Note: 11 is good, if you're Spinal Tap. Not so much if you have diabetes.)

I breathed for a moment, and realized of all the diabetics out there, it's been proven that many of them have no interest in getting their disease under control. I think it must be standard doctor's rigamarole to make you feel as terrible as possible for whatever your A1C level turns out to be so you'll be interested in seeking help. My primary care doc had pretty much talked to me for the first time the other day, so I can't expect her to know anything about me. My medical records from my last primary doc haven't been sent over yet.

I think I've been lucky in the past with general doctors. My doc in Delaware worked right next door to Nancy the NP from the Diabetes Center. Their reception offices were actually connected! Way back, when I was still living in Williamsport, my endo was the only one in town, and my doctor was a pediatrician who had previously employed my grandmother as a nurse, so I was already known there...haha, since birth, actually.

For now, I shouldn't hold it against my regular doc for sounding so scolding. I also did exactly what she told me, which was to make an appointment with the endocrinologist we talked about. That won't be until February 20, but in another show of trying to make up for people who have no interest in controlling their diabetes, this new endo's office requires a $75 deposit for the first appointment. If you show up for the appointment, they refund your money. Actually, I think they'll just hold the check and give it to you when you show up. If you're a no-show, it'll cost you $75. I had never heard of such a practice before. I wondered if this endo was going to be worth seeing, but then...

I got an email from Gary Scheiner. After the other day's self-rallying-cry/mopefest, I realized that Gary, one hell of a highly-respected CDE who definitely knows what it's like to be Type 1, is practically around the corner from me. His Integrated Diabetes Services office is probably only half an hour or so away from here. Geez, I thought, if I'll drive half an hour to go to a poetry slam, I can certainly drive half an hour to make an investment in my health with somebody who knows what they're doing. I had asked him some questions, which he answered, and then he made a recommendation for an endo who's nearby.

Amazingly, this is the same endo I already made an appointment with at the request of my general doc. Maybe my doc is not so bad after all. And once I show her that I'm serious about making a better effort this year, I won't get those scolding looks at my next office visit.

I've got a lot of plans for the day, but I know if I don't call the Integrated Diabetes office today, I'll definitely do it on Monday.

I got a flu shot the other day as well, and it's definitely given me a cold. Lots of coughing. Had I known this wasn't going to go away, I would have bought cough drops and medicine at Walgreens yesterday when I refilled 4 different medications. Sigh. Cough.

Things are, once again, on the up-swing at least.

Hope you all have a great weekend.