Are you proactive about your diabetes? Do you take responsibility for your health? I just read an article that reported results of a poll. Nearly 80 percent of respondents say it’s their doctor’s job to keep them healthy – not just to treat them when they’re sick. And they wish there was more communication when they’re feeling OK: 70 percent of respondents say their doc has never checked on them when they weren’t sick in order to help them stay healthy.
I have to say I’m really amazed at this. And I’m speaking as a person, not as a professional. I am among the first to admit that our health care system is actually a sick care system -one that has historically focused on medicating and “healing” the sick, rather than preventing sickness in the first place. And I definitely support prevention – through education. But there is also a place for accountability. If we have diabetes, we can be accountable for our choices. We can seek education/information and then use it to take care of ourselves. If we have questions, we can ask them – and get more information/education.
Yes, it would be great if our system were set up for providers to send texts – perhaps in response to texts or emails we send them. But if we sit around and expect providers to text us proactively, what is the message? I think there is a place for this when diabetes is new, but the whole point becomes for people with diabetes to learn how to manage – make choices – independently.
Thoughts??