Sugar, spice, and everything nice: finding an adult endocrinologist

It's been a while I know, but I've decided that before the start of the year I'm going to write another post and then I can make it my new year's resolution to keep it up to date with all of the woes and wins of my life as a college student living with diabetes.  This post is going to be a bit long just because there's a lot going on in my life relative to diabetes care.
As a twenty year old young woman, I am at the age where it is becoming less socially acceptable to have doctor appointments at Children's Hospital. It was a sad day when my endocrinologist pointed that out to me, but it's very much the truth.  That being said, finding an endocrinologist is quite the task. There are factors that go into the search for an endocrinologist that do not go into finding, say, a dentist or a regular physician.  There are even more factors dealing with the mobility of college life and the transition from home to wherever life may take me. These many factors create a long list of questions and a wild goose chase to find the mythical perfect adult endocrinologist that can fit in my pocket and go wherever I decide to go. Sadly, there is no such thing (trust me, I asked.)
It started with a list of names that my endocrinologist at Children's suggested.  While I go to school about an hour south of Seattle it's still fairly close to where I live, so there was a pretty large demographic to cover in terms of private practices and other hospitals that may offer diabetes-related care.  She gave me a list of people practicing medicine with the University of Washington, a few local practices that are closer to home, and a select few people who may be viable options closer to school.  Then she assured me that I needn't be in a hurry to find a new doctor, but that I should ask around and do some research on who and what I'm looking for when I decide to make the transition.
Next came the phone calls.  The endless ringing and holding and pressing buttons to get to a real person only to be directed to 12 different people before being sent back to the receptionist you first spoke to...that was the worst part of the whole process. It still is the worst part of any doctor's office, in my opinion.  I had to call my regular physician, my insurance company, all of the doctors offices that I might be interested in and then repeat the process to make sure that the doctor was available, that he or she was covered by my insurance, and if I wanted to schedule a consultation that my doctor submitted a referral.  Ugh, the process was torturous.
Before submitting a referral request I finally settled on a doctor that I wanted to sit down and talk with.  That one doctor required a referral from my regular physician and my current endocrinologist, as well as confirmation that my insurance provider worked with the company she was associated with.  Not only that, but the number of questions I need asked before I can settle on an endocrinologist can't really be answered over the phone by the receptionist.  Thus, we schedule a consultation to discuss all of those important matters.  This process began in August, when I was first given the list and started looking at my options, and I called to schedule a consultation at the end of November. My appointment is at the end of January.
However meeting with the potential endocrinologist will not be the end of my worries, because as I am a busy college student my A1C is sub-par and as my current endocrinologist pointed out, the doctor may judge my diabetes management soley on that number. If that were the case throughout the 11 years I've lived with diabetes god knows where my self-esteem may be; as I'm sure those of you reading this who are living with diabetes know, treatment is no exact science and I've had quite the roller coaster.  So in order to be taken seriously by this new practitioner my A1C needs to be as close to perfect as I can get it in under a month.
Needless to say this long, drawn out process that I am still going through (I'm crossing my fingers that I like the practitioner; I really don't want to go through all of that again) isn't one I'd wish on my worst enemy, and yet it's a process that has to be done for most of us college-aged kids living with diabetes.  For those of you who have already undergone this transitional process and have found an adult diabetes care specialist that they work well with, I commend you and I envy you.  For those of you who are about to embark on the journey, may the odds be ever in your favor.
I'll keep you all updated with the progress in the Search for Heather's Endocrinologist in the weeks and months to come!

Best,
Heather

Ten Years Ago Today

Ten years ago today I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. My diaversary isn’t something I usually celebrate, but a decade is a momentous and celebratory feat. I’ve come a long way since my diagnosis in carb counting, bolusing, and life-living with diabetes as a piece and not the focal point.  I’ve pumped my way through grade school, junior high and high school and I am now living a near-independent life with diabetes as a college student. Diabetes is no picnic. There have been countless tears shed and many punched pillows as a result of the rollercoaster that is diabetes management. Despite all of the difficulties diabetes has presented in my life- or maybe because of it- I have a life I am proud to be living.  My family and friends who have stuck by my side through incoherent babbling while low and senseless irritability while high mean the world to me.  There are so many experiences I wouldn’t have had if not for my diabetes. So many amazing people I’ve met might never have been in my life were it not for my non-functioning pancreas. My passion for advocacy, even my enthusiasm to major in political science may never have come to the surface. Although I often blame diabetes for ruining my social life or mood of the hour, it has also enriched my life in more ways than I can count.

            So on my ten year anniversary of my diagnosis I will focus on the many positives. I can look back on the many advances diabetes management has made in a decade and look hopefully at the next ten years. From that first night in the hospital, walking around with my mom well past midnight, I know I would only let diabetes be a reason to improve both myself and the awareness of the people around me. It’s nice to look back and feel that I did- am still doing- just that. Here’s to ten years.