Help or Hinder?

I am once again in a pondering mood.  A good one,
but  a pondering one nonetheless.

"Actually took while writing this post"

I had a flashback to when I was in university, and my wife and I were seeking out student housing. There was a sign behind the counter of the "Student Housing Reception Desk" that, to this day sticks in my mind.

It said "Failure to plan on your part does not necessitate an emergency on my part"  So we approach the counter, and of course the attitude behind the counter matched the sign behind the desk.  I remember thinking why even post that in your office, and of course I am sure those folks had to deal with numerous self righteous students who were egocentric and who repeatedly harass the receptionist  to solve their problems "yesterday" because everything is an emergency.

Anyhow, over our years, or life, we come across all sorts of people. Some are helpers and some are hinderers. What in the world am I getting at?  Well I guess we shouldn't let the hinderers(I know it isn't a word) drag us down.

For instance:  You need to return an item to a store, you can get one of two types of people. One, the person who make it easy, does the exchange and gives that discount because when you bought the item it was double the price, or you can get the employee who makes the process agonizingly difficult, calls the manager refuses to even consider giving you any discount.  Person 1 helper, Person 2 hinderer.

This also applies to Physicians, Nurses, and the variety of team members you may deal with  in your quest for information, an appointment, or simple regime change for yourself and/or your child.

I touched on this issue  a bit in a previous post Are You Courteously Assertive where I explain a terrible experience I had trying to initiate a better treatment plan.  Huge Hindrance to say the least!


When a person asks me for something at work I think; how can I facilitate this and make it happen?  A helpers attitude. Which makes me think that those other types(the hinderers)must think; what can I do to make this request not happen? 

I guess the whole point to this post is beware of the hinderers as they will try to prevent you from getting the best for you and or your child with diabetes. Be it; a disgruntled receptionist or nurse, or a large company(insurance or otherwise) telling you there is nothing more they can do. 

Don't buy it!  Keep seeking until you find that helper, because they do exist.

Trev.

Sunday Summary

Wow, another week has gone by! 

Here are Three 2 Treat`s top 5 posts ranked by popularity:

1.  Exercise Good or Bad?

2.  Pro Carb or Low Carb?

3.  Ring The Bell Already!

4.  Are You Courteously Assertive?

5.  Sleep, Oh How I love Thee!


Have an awesome Sunday!

Trev

Sunday's Summary & Pics

"Gypsy's Nares"

Well since Sunday is family day, I have decided to share a few pics and a list of the weeks blogs.

Here is a Summary of this weeks blogs:

1. School for Type 1 Kids - What's Your Take?

2.  Why Worry if You Feel Great?

3.  Ketones Are They Bad?

4.  Tooth Fairy at My Age- Seriously (Rated PG 14)

5.  Exercise Good or Bad?

6.  Are You Courteously Assertive?

Here are some family pics, hope you enjoy!

"Classic Family Photo"

"Me, the Wolf, and Abby"

"The only other Male in the house - Chuck!"

"Sophie striking a pose"

Are You Courteously Assertive?

"My Assertive Teenage Type 1"

Many years ago, lets say, 15+ or so, I was referred to meet my first endocrinologist, as my family physician felt it was time to pass the care of my diabetes over to the specialist.

Prior to this appointment I had it in my head, after doing much research over the net of course(yes it existed back then) that I wanted to go on the "Run and Shoot Method" or in modern terms, a MDI regime. 

I made my merry way to meet the new Endocrinologist.  I was greeted by his Resident(A physician training to specialize) who's job it was to take a history and do a brief physical exam.  That took all of 10 minutes.

Then entered the new Endo.  He looked at me and said. "So you want to switch up your insulin?" I replied "Yes I do because, " He abruptly cut me off mid sentence and said, "That's not a good idea, you need to stay on your current insulin."  There was a long awkward period of silence, you know, like the elevator type, very uncomfortable.

He went on to ask or more like dictate, the goals I need to shoot for, asked a few other questions regarding; eyes, feet, the usual diabetes stuff.  I honestly shut down all incoming communication at that point in the interview. Then, he stood up, handed me a lab requisition and said, "keep taking what you take and see me in three months"

I was shocked, hurt, mad, and felt defeated.  My plan to go on a "current" more updated insulin regime was shot down.  I didn't handle the rejection very well.
Here I was, a motivated patient requesting better therapy, and suddenly I was shut out.  Totally powerless or so I thought at that moment.

I assume you want to know what I did next.  He had to go!  Just pictured in my head the board Room scenario's for those who have watched Mr Trump point and say, "Your Fired!"on the Reality show the Apprentice.  Ah if only......well back to the story.

I "fired him" well, mentally I did.  I waited a few weeks, phoned my Family Doc and told him I wanted to be referred to somebody who had a personality, and the ability to listen.  I also, in a courteously assertive way, asked him to prescribe the Ultralente, Novorapid regime I wanted to try. He reluctantly wrote the scrip, I think because he knew I wasn't going to leave with out some change in my therapy.

Six months later,  I finally met my new Endocrinologist; which I might add was the most important visit of my diabetic life. Not kidding. This lady was progressive and up to date, she listened, empathized and was totally okay with the regime I was on, and said, "You know, I am starting another Type 1 fellow on an Insulin Pump next week, are you interested in pump therapy?"

During my Internet search I had read some stuff on pump therapy, but hadn't considered this myself.  But that was before she made this amazing proposition.
I said to her, "That is the most current therapy available, yes I'm interested"

"My Old Medtronic Pump"

One month later I was connected and pumping insulin. I thought to myself, wow, I don't have to take a shot every few hours, three days shot free! It was a very exciting time in my diabetes life. Of course the trial and errors, basal rates, and ratios needed sorting, but my life changed.  I was in control of the Mr D, not the other way around.

In retrospect, things could have turned out different. I could have gone back to the first Endo 3 months later, he may have tweaked or changed my regime, and may have mentioned the pump at a much later date.

I chose to be courteously assertive with my family physician, I didn't demand or order him, I was simply assertive enough to not take no for an answer, I wanted to better my diabetes treatment, and that is what I accomplished.

I believe that we all have that ability to be assertive, don't give up, we have information at our finger tips, and it is up to you to ask for what you want, and get it!

Being Courteously Assertive certainly paid off for me.


A little FYI below:

World English Dictionary

courteous  (ˈkɜːtɪəs)  — adj polite and considerate in manner assertive  (əˈsɜːtɪv)  — adj 1. confident and direct in claiming one's rights or putting forward one's views 2. given to making assertions or bold demands; dogmatic or aggressive