My Doctor???? Jeeeez

Options
Peg_M
Peg_M Posts: 34
in Health and Weight Loss
I had to do a health screening at work for insurance. It showed I had a fasting glucose count of 128. So I made an appointment at my Dr and he took an A1C count and said I was border line diabetic. So his advice....LOSE WEIGHT!! I told him I have lost 18 lbs and he looked at my chart and said yes you are down 13 since your last visit. So I asked him if I should see someone to help with a low carb diet and he more or less said well insurance usually don't pay for it. He did nothing to help and had no information about how I should manage my nutrients. I have googled low carb and there is everything from only 20 g of carb a day which is very low to saying 150 is low. If my Dr didn't say much more than LOSE WEIGHT then how am I supposed to know what to do???
«1

Replies

  • Erica6130
    Erica6130 Posts: 34 Member
    Options
    Have you looked into finding another doctor and getting a second opinion?
  • Peg_M
    Peg_M Posts: 34
    Options
    Not yet.... perhaps I should of asked more questions or insisted on seeing a dietitian whether insurance pays or not. Just thought he was not very helpful.
  • osothefinn
    osothefinn Posts: 163 Member
    Options
    I had to do a health screening at work for insurance. It showed I had a fasting glucose count of 128. So I made an appointment at my Dr and he took an A1C count and said I was border line diabetic. So his advice....LOSE WEIGHT!! I told him I have lost 18 lbs and he looked at my chart and said yes you are down 13 since your last visit. So I asked him if I should see someone to help with a low carb diet and he more or less said well insurance usually don't pay for it. He did nothing to help and had no information about how I should manage my nutrients. I have googled low carb and there is everything from only 20 g of carb a day which is very low to saying 150 is low. If my Dr didn't say much more than LOSE WEIGHT then how am I supposed to know what to do???

    If you're borderline diabetic he should be able to refer you to a diabetic educator. They'd be able to help you with meal planning. Ask his office for a referral.
  • RawIndian
    RawIndian Posts: 90 Member
    Options
    I recommend reading Eat to Live by Dr.Fuhrman. It provides a diet recommendation for people that are diabetic and also have high cholesterol problems.
  • dawningr
    dawningr Posts: 387 Member
    Options
    Time for a new doctor. My Mom is diabetic and her doctor is so helpful AND referred her to a nutritionist for additional help (and with the referral her insurance DOES cover it).
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,022 Member
    Options
    If my Dr didn't say much more than LOSE WEIGHT then how am I supposed to know what to do???

    Become your own expert. Research, read, talk to people who know their stuff, ask lots of questions, try some things out, be persistent, be patient, think rationally and logically, constantly reassess. It's your health and quality of life. There's no such thing as "too much work."
  • pixred
    pixred Posts: 5
    Options
    I was worried about weight loss and diabetes because there are family members with it. I went to see my doctor and he was not supportive and did not give me any information. he laughed at me and was really flippant with me, told my i would lose weight if i lived in Ethiopia and that i would out live my friends if there was a famine. nice guy.
  • vanillacoffee
    vanillacoffee Posts: 1,024 Member
    Options
    So unhelpful! Congrats on your weight loss so far, though. Hopefully you can find a better doctor!
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,287 Member
    Options
    My Dr. doesn't claim to be a dietician either and I wouldn't want him to. No more than I'd ask my dentist to deliver my baby. Pay for one out of pocket if you think you need it, or grab a couple good books on Amazon - or join a gym and just go! The gym I used to go to had a nutritionist on staff. Also, you should check with your insurance, I know mine paid for my husband to see a nutritionist and I doubt your Dr has your benefits memorized.
  • JADEPH0EN1X
    JADEPH0EN1X Posts: 162 Member
    Options
    When I was first diagnosed with type 2 , like you I was very confused about what to eat and what nutrients in what quantity . Even after going to the visiting the nurses at the hospital who were supposed to advise on healthy eating ! All they really said was don't bother with the so called diabetic foods as they were just a waste of money & no food is forbidden !! Now as a self confessed carb junkie that didn't help at all ! It's only since I've been on mfp that I have been watching my sugar & carb intake ( trying to keep my carbs between 110 - 120 / pay ) this has helped me lose inches around my middle & kept my sugars in normal limits ( 6.4 before breakfast - which is when I'm normally at my highest ) .
  • shadus
    shadus Posts: 424 Member
    Options
    Sounds like it's time to find a new doctor. While your doctor shouldn't claim to be a dietician there is a lot a doctor can do to support and ensure you remain healthy during weight loss or can sometimes even refer you to a dietician for additional help.

    Sounds like your doctor is on cruise control for collecting co-pays. Find a new one who takes an active part in your health care.
  • hdyanneh
    hdyanneh Posts: 39
    Options
    Even if your insurance doesn't cover it he should make some type of referral usually you can get it covered its just a matter of getting a PRE Approval and if it truly isnt covered he can refer you to a community program usually offered free of charge by hospitals or clinics. You should look for another Dr that has a lil more time to spend with each patient and genuinely cares.
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Options
    Most Dr's don't have an educational background in what your asking.. they will refer you to a nutrionist or a dietician for calories and all that.. I am sure your Dr pointed at the BMI chart and said you should be here.. that is about the extent of most of their knowledge as it isn't really a big subject yet in medical school.
    Some will help more, other's not.. it just really depends.
  • sumeetg37
    sumeetg37 Posts: 108 Member
    Options
    I am also a type 2 diabetic. There is a ton of information out there. You can check out diabetes.org. Food is very important for diabetics however as you have already been controlling your diet I would suggest increasing your activity. Not to sound like a broken record but exercise is incredibly important as well. Even small amounts of walking after meals can make quite an impact.
  • BabyNurseJen
    BabyNurseJen Posts: 64 Member
    Options
    Endocrinologists often have diabetes educators on staff. I'd start by calling there. I failed my 1 hour glucose test when I was pregnant and my insurance paid for it. Perhaps if your doctor gives you a diagnosis of prediabetes, your insurance would pay for it. It wouldn't hurt to call and ask.
  • Annette_rose
    Annette_rose Posts: 427 Member
    Options
    Ha, this is the typical story I hear and see every day working in a clinic full of docs. They herd patients in and out like cattle. I am pretty irritated with our general health care right now. I was just diagnosed with thyroid cancer, they took the thyroid out and want me to do radioactive iodine. The whole thing has been a mess. One doc will tell me to do low carb, another just eat tiny bits of food, another whole foods, etc. My best source of info for me has come from the thyroid cancer facebook site where there are many other thyroid cancer patients. Good luck in finding your support!!!
  • TruckersWifeTruckersLife
    TruckersWifeTruckersLife Posts: 408 Member
    Options
    I was on borderline of being a diabetic for years but now I am happy to report since my last blood test that is no longer an option the doctor is very happy with my results. But yes get a second opinion if you are not happy with your current doctors attitude I would personally get a new doctor and also do research like has been suggested you may even be able to phone a dietician or nutritionist and get some advice off them once you explain things they might be able to give you some ideas
  • JustYandy
    JustYandy Posts: 221 Member
    Options
    My Doc told me when I was prego No more then 15-25 carbs at breakfast,30-40 Lunch ,Dinner 15-25 carbs something like that and I thought I was gonna starve to death but it worked and I only gained 2lbs during my whole pregnancy (kept sugar levels stable)and still had a healthy 8lb 6oz child.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Options
    Endocrinologists often have diabetes educators on staff. I'd start by calling there. I failed my 1 hour glucose test when I was pregnant and my insurance paid for it. Perhaps if your doctor gives you a diagnosis of prediabetes, your insurance would pay for it. It wouldn't hurt to call and ask.

    ^ This. As soon as you have any sort of endocrine related disorder, ask for a referral to an endocrinologist. You are teetering on a specialized condition that would be better helped and treated with a specialist.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,022 Member
    Options
    Don't be so quick to blame the doctor. She admits she didn't ask many questions. Just because you're paying him to treat you doesn't mean you don't need to be proactive about your own health care. Be assertive. Ask whatever questions you have. He can't read your mind. If you don't get satisfactory answers, then sure, find another doctor.

    As for insurance, I think it's pretty common these days for an appointment with a nutritionist to be covered. However, if you are capable of reading and comprehending, I don't even think it's necessary. There is a ton of information available online. Don't try to diagnose yourself, but you don't really need to pay money for information about what to eat to lose weight.

Categories