Diabetic Recipes
"Do you see symptoms of low blood glucose? Shakiness, sweating or disorientation?"
"Well, sure, of course. My son has type 1 diabetes. I'm sorry, who are you again?"
"This is a free service from your insurance provider. We'll be calling occasionally to check in with you to see how things are going."
"Oh."
"How often do you see low blood sugars?"
"I'd say we see at least one low almost every day."
"Whoa! Every day???"
"Well it's a long day."
"Do you see elevated blood glucose levels?"
"Well, yeah. I did mention my son has diabetes, right?"
"Yes. How often do you see high blood glucose?"
"Every day. At one point or another. He has highs all the time."
(gasp) "What do his doctors say?"
"Oh, we've never taken him to a doctor. Should we have?"
[Dammit! I wish I really said that. Back to the true story ...]
"His doctors understand what we're going through and know we're doing the best we can. The doctors have noticed, just as we have, that his blood sugars often have no clear pattern. They tell us to keep doing what we're doing. Keep checking sugars, keep basal testing."
"Do you go to Joslin? They're very good."
"No. We go to CHOP - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Isn't Joslin in Boston?"
"Well yes, but I see there's also one close to you. In Syracuse."
(visualizing map of the United States in my head)
"Syracuse?"
"OK, my computer is telling me this is an urgent emergency."
(giggling) "Interesting. My computer tells me to 'really satisfy her' with penis enlargement."
[Dammit! Didn't say that either. Coward!]
"An urgent emergency means that you would be receiving phone calls from us quite often. Do you feel that would be necessary?"
"Neh. Thanks though."
It's criminal, how easy it is to have fun with those people...I almost feel bad ;-) Hilarious!
I really love such helpful programs from our insurance companies. I got one last week about the benefits of controlling my diabetes with diet and exercise.
I've written my insurance company three times asking to be removed from the call list. I usually end up explaining more to the nurse than they can explain to me. Now I just ignore their calls with thanks to Caller ID.
Instead of calling you frequently, why don't they just cover CGMS 100%!!!!
I started receiving phone calls listed "Your Health Coach" on my caller ID. Since I'm a nurse who works nights, I didn't answer those calls since I was sleeping and the ringer on my phone was turned off. A day or two after the first call, I received a packet from my insurance company with a diabetes booklet full of information I had already gotten either through my own efforts or from my Diabetes Self-Management class. I realize that perhaps this service from the insurance company would be helpful for some people. However, I consider myself to be intelligent and knowledgeable about my disease process and I am doing very well with my glucose control. I really don't need calls during what is usually the middle of my "night" from someone viewing a computer screen and attempting to tell me what I should do. I have an excellent doctor whom I keep in contact with as needed. I find your story hilarious. If I do answer one of those calls, I may just answer with your suggested answers. lol Best of health to you and your family. Charlie is a cutie!
You're welcome to stay at my house any time you want to come to my Joslin Clinic in Syracuse. Really great people there. Trying to manage a young diabetic is tough. Little people aren't experienced enough to realize what low's or high's feel like, they just know they feel poorly. It also gets complicate because they're busy growing too. The problem is Insurance companies have ALL diabetics lumped into one category and figure we ALL have the same symptoms and problems. Unfortunately for the few of us Type 1's we don't fit those categories very well and have to put up with all the monkey business. Patience is a virtue my dear, and I wish you all that you need. ;)
One of these days the insurance companies and even some of the doctors will realize these complications diabetic kids and adults have is from the touted treatment. If the so called researchers stop curing rats with diabetes and start using it on humans. Heard on the news again that they have cured rats with diabetes, human studies to happen 3 to 5 years. They said in 1999 the same thing and studies on humans were to be happening in one year. Where is the accountability for the millions of $ that appears to be wasted. I bet every diabetic could of used some of that $ to deal with the complications of this condition and to finance this roman diet. Carey you appear to be a great father keep up the love and fight your son needs it.
He, he. I ignor the letters begging me to sign up for their "health assistance" program. I'm doing quite well on my own with the help of my doctors.
They are so much fun to mess with though... I hope you had fun. :D