Having computer failure and moving to a
backup computer is not fun, but it is doable. Having lost many of my
favorites and bookmarks is difficult to rebuild and I still have a
quite few I have not recovered. I have noticed that many of my
favorites are seldom posting blogs. Yes, they post, but not as
frequently as they had in the past. I have found some activity on
Facebook and Google+; so much of the activity may have gone where
they get more immediate response, which can be more rewarding. I say
good for them, I will miss them.
I do have accounts with both, but
cannot find time for participating. I admit I am tired of receiving
invites to play the games on Facebook. I would much rather play one
game of solitaire which will be over shortly, and not waste a lot of
time I see wasted on Facebook games. I enjoy researching and reading
more than playing these games. There are so many good sources of
information, some very interesting, and a lot of garbage is published
trying to pass itself off as something important.
Part of what irritates me is the small
studies done that mean nothing more than a call for more money to do
larger and even less meaningful studies. Yes, I am venting. Then I
get tired of all the rodent studies that herald a breakthrough. Yet
we seldom see much beyond these rodent studies. Why? Because so
much just won’t translate to the human body. Then there is the
type of studies blogged about very accurately by Tom Ross
here. This
alone has me wondering how these get by peer review and how they are
funded in the first place. It also raises questions about data
committees and who else passed the buck. These researchers need to
have criminal penalties imposed and do some prison time for their
fraudulent use of research funds.
Now back to bloggers. I know bloggers
come and go. Some I do miss and wonder what I could have done to
encourage them. Others, well I hope you learned something while you
were here and nothing serious has caused you to leave. I know from
experience that sometimes a thick skin is needed and at other times,
you can get emails for help that you cannot answer. Blogging can be
very rewarding and at other times, you wonder if you are reaching
anyone with something informative.
Then there are times when you receive
both good comments (I receive mostly emails) and negative emails. I
have been very surprised by what blogs get responses. I have had
several over the last couple of months. Were the blogs that good?
No, I can honestly say for a couple, I missed a lot and will write
more later for some of them. At the same time, I at least opened the
door for further discussion and I am learning a lot from one doctor,
and for that, I am very thankful. I am also thankful for some of the
contacts I have been making. Being a patient does have some
advantages and at other times garners some sharp criticism. If I can
continue to learn from some of the criticism, then I will have
gained.
Several professionals have answered
emails and we have started good discussions. A couple have contacted
me and their discussions have been even more productive. I have been
surprised at the questions and information they have requested and
the responses to the information. You never know when something you
blog about can open avenues for conversation.
Another activity that has been brought
to my attention in the last few months is the use of peer mentors. I
was a little shocked when I learned this, but after talking with a
doctor using peer mentors and two of the peer mentors, I have learned
a lot. The doctor stated that the nearest certified diabetes
educator was over 150 miles distant and the closest registered
dietitian was over 200 miles distant. The doctor had attempted to
use the computer for video conferencing, but could not work around
their schedules.
The doctor said he had two patients
that he knew spent time researching on the Internet about diabetes
and decided to have them in for a session of questions and answers
just with him. He was pleased with the interaction with both, but
one was not interested in peer mentoring. Therefore, he started with
just one person and the first few sessions with patients went very
well. In the meantime, both he and his peer mentor looked for others
that would be capable. Over the next six months, they found and
interviewed six more people, ending up with four peer mentors.
How did I end up being in contact with
them? One of the peer mentors had read one of my blogs about shared
medical appointments (SMAs) and made the doctor aware of this. The
doctor was not sure if this would work for him, but was interested in
exploring the topic. Over the last four weeks, we have corresponded
about this. The doctors admits he does not like my stance on the
American Diabetes Association, but is pleasantly surprised about the
alternatives I do present.
My opposition to a one-size-fits-all
mantra also got his attention, as did the discussion he had with his
mentors about this. He knows that many people do not have the
ability to afford the extra test strips to eat to your meter, or to
discover how the different foods affect their bodies at diagnosis or
at different times afterward. After discussing programs that a few
of the test strip manufacturers have, he is now on a mission to see
what can be done for his patients. Two of his mentors are writing on
his behalf to see what can be accomplished. The office has gathered
the numbers of each different meter used by his patients so that they
can use this for volume.
He has asked about having SMAs with 5
to 9 people only as this about all his office can hold in the
reception area. We have talked about having them at 4:00 PM to avoid
interruptions. He does feel this would be workable, and if necessary
he can see them going past 5:00 PM. Since he has the computers and
equipment from attempting to set up with the CDEs and RDs, he seems
willing to try this. His office is now surveying his patients with
type 2 diabetes to find out how many would be interested. He is
aware from reading my blog that secrecy for some may be an issue. He
is investigating the frequency of having the SMAs, but in the
beginning will start with quarterly.
He has used the video conferencing with
me and has said he hopes I am not disappointed by not being asked to
mentor for him. I said no, as I was writing my blogs and would be
starting with two other doctors in the coming weeks as a peer mentor
for them. I did email him copies of my twelve-blog series and the
dates to be published and that if parts of them were useful then I
had served as well in supplying education topics. He has forwarded
them to his mentors and one has thanked me for them.
I have supplied him with the names of
several people with nutrition degrees in his area and he said he was
not aware of them, but would be in contact with a couple to see if
schedules could be worked out. I have to thank my contacts for the
names I sent to him.
Even if I have no other contacts like
this, the last few weeks have been very rewarding for me. Complaints
aside, I have learned a lot and even one that was especially critical
has given me a valuable lesson in how to approach a couple of
topics.
