It’s unfortunate, but our healthcare is primarily controlled by insurance companies. If the insurance companies are acting nice, then it can be our medical team. What about the rights of the patient?
I live with Type 1 Diabetes. This means that I live with a disease that does not go away. It takes zero breaks. It is working on me 24/7/365, so the only way to combat it is to fight back 24/7/365.
But ya know what, that’s tough to do. That’s something that I can’t always do. I can’t fight 24/7/365. So, instead of fighting, I accepted the disease. I have accepted that it is something that I need to live with every day.
In order to make living with this disease just a tad bit easier, I need certain things. Insulin is one. I’m not going to get into that here, but let’s face it, insulin pricing is completely out of control.
This post is about my rights to choose devices that work for me.
Why am I talking about this right now?
Well, from 2005-2017 I wore a Medtronic insulin pump. I didn’t choose this pump when I was first put on a pump. I decided to wear an insulin pump and this was the one that was recommended to me. In fact, I didn’t even know there were other options. I chose to continue using Medtronic during those 12 years because I had no problems with them.
In 2018, I decided to go off of my insulin pump and go back to multiple daily injections (MDI). Once making this decision, I decided that I wanted to use a Dexcom as well. My endo at the time was fine with me making this switch, and so was the insurance.
Getting approval for the Dexcom took a few hoops to jump through, but there was never a denial in the process.
Flash forward to December 2018 and I was done with MDI. I wanted to go back on a pump and I wanted to either use the t:slim or the Omnipod. I discussed both decisions with my endo and at first, he said “No.”
Well, I didn’t take no for an answer.
This is my disease!
This is my disease and I am going to use what tools I want to use to help me manage my disease. I am not going to let someone who never sees me or meets me (insurance) or someone who sees me once every 90 days (endo) decide which devices I am going to use.
They are not the ones who have to live with the disease or the devices. I will ask for guidance from my endo, but at the end of the day, I am going to make the final decisions.
For example, I just came back from a 2-week follow up appointment with my endo after starting on the Omnipod and using Tresiba as my basal insulin. I came in to the appointment with real data and told him what changes I felt needed to be made. He reviewed my recommendations and signed off on them.
That is being what I call, an empowered patient.
Empowered Patient
Being an empowered patient also means that you understand your patient device rights. If there is a certain device you want to use, do your homework first. Don’t just come into an appointment saying you want to use something because everyone else is. Know why you want to use it.
Once you do that, be prepared for questions from your endo. They may question why you want to use a particular device.
Once you have the endo on your side, now it’s time to fight insurance. Unfortunately, this is where it can get tough.
For example, if you just switched to a new insulin pump last year, tough luck, they aren’t going to approve a new one. That is why it is super important to do your homework on the device first. Know the ups, know the downs, speak to people who are actually using the product. Jump on Facebook groups, Twitter, Instagram, anywhere.
There is no shortage of information. However, the information isn’t going to reach out to you, you need to do your own homework.
Need help?
If you need recommendations on how to prepare to have a conversation with your endo, please let me know. I’d be more than happy to share with you what has worked for me. My endo respects me as a patient and as someone who has expertise with diabetes because I have earned it.
I am by no means a “perfect” patient. Heck, my last A1C was nowhere near what I wanted it to be, but I had a game plan to fix it and I had reasons for why it was what it was, not excuses.
My game plan included a new device, an Omnipod. 2 weeks in and my Time-in-Range report from Dexcom Clarity has already increased over 50%.
I know my diabetes, I know what works best for my diabetes, and I know what type of management method I need to use with my diabetes.
I also know that when it comes to diabetes devices, I have the right to use what devices make the most sense for my diabetes management style.
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Hmm, My endo has always been completely comfortable with me making the decision. I chose Medtronic the first time, because of his patents over 85% used Medtronic. But last time I chose they said look there are other choices shop around. I did and chose Medtronic. It is funny, now days I am part of the 40% in their office that still uses Medtronic.