Re: Newbie Concerned for Mom

>One last question--  Her MD will not return any phone calls.  I mean
>none, ever.  I've suggested (as one of you kind "respondees" also has)
>that she find a new doctor ASAP.  Is it normal for a specialist in
>this field to deflect questions to physicians' assistants?

I actually don't mind this, if there is a good nurse or pa who can take the
time.  It sounds to me like you and your mother could both benefit from a
diabetes education program, so ask the endo about that.  

I find that most questions that I have can be answered satisfactorily by the
nurse or pa.   If they are good, they should be able to tell when something
needs the attention of the doctor. 

As an example, a lot of MDs do not want to be bothered with routine calls about
changing the insulin dose, and IMHO the MD should have competent people on
staff that can do that efficiently.  With proper education of the patient,
though, the best doctors let the patient manipulate the insulin dose.  

Very early on we (family w/ type 1 diabetes child) were taught to adjust the
insulin dose ourselves.  I don't think I have ever had a question for the
doctor involving that. 



BL 

"As the waves pass the rock, their shape is changed.  There is a hologram of
the rock within the wave that comes forward and crashes on the beach, then
there's a reflected wave back."   Ralph Abraham   

"I'd like to learn to windsurf."  BL