I met my new endocrinologist and CDE today. The short version goes something like this: I love everything about them. And I’m getting a t:slim. And I feel great about everything.

Tell ’em Stanley.

via giphy.com

The longer version requires a some fragmented thoughts and sentences. 

• The receptionist requested my CGM and Verio IQ so the data could be downloaded and discussed with my CDE and Endo. What?
• My CDE uses a t:slim and a Dexcom G4. Walking the walk, or something like that.
• This was the first time I’ve ever met a CDE (for my own diabetes care). I was diagnosed in 2002. Without any formal guidance, that kinda means my diabetes care over the past 12 years has been something between crowdsourced and “winging it”, right?
• There were computers! My previous (and up until this point only) endocrinologist’s office used paper, pen, and other various analog and depending on your perspective archaic methods of record keeping.
• My appointment lasted over 60 minutes. Granted, some of that time was for routine physical stuff like height, weight, and blood pressure, but I spoke with my CDE for 25 uninterrupted minutes and my CDE and endocrinologist together for another 15 after that.

• My CDE dropped DiaTribe’s name during our conversation. Based on that, and other tidbits from our chat, I’m pretty sure this office is down with the Internet and it’s relevance to diabetes care. I didn’t outright ask if they recommend social media to their patients, but it’s clear they aren’t afraid of it. And that makes me happy. I don’t need them reading everything on the world wide web, but as long as they respect its existence, we’re cool.
• More on the “computers” bit, they use an online portal to manage prescriptions, send messages to your endocrinologist, and do other things that I had only heard about in blog posts and medical conferences. I even downloaded the app that connects me to said portal on my phone simply because I could.
• Time was spent looking at my Dexcom graphs and discussing immediate areas of improvement, even with my impending switch to an insulin pump. It felt weird openly discussing my diabetes care with a professional rather than getting a couple of minutes of banter before receiving prescription refills.
• To that point, it felt strange being open and honest about my diabetes management. I actually don’t know what my insulin/carb ratios are over the course of the day. I estimate insulin corrections based on what I remember from past experiences. I do a really crappy job of counting carbs. This may sound like I’m making excuses, but I’m not…I’ve never been taught how to do any of that stuff. Maybe I didn’t know how to ask my previous endocrinologist for help – maybe I knew asking wouldn’t get me any worthwhile answers. Regardless of the past, I’m looking forward to the future and the precision I’m going to introduce to how I live my life with diabetes.
• My CDE has been working with the endocrinologists at this office for 15-20 years depending on the doctor. I respect the camaraderie there.
• They performed a finger-stick A1c test at the beginning of the appointment. It came back at 5.6, which we (all three of us) knew wasn’t accurate. So I left with a bloodwork referral. I’ve always been skeptical of A1c tests and this didn’t relieve any of those skepticisms. Oh well.

All in all, I’m excited. It’s nice to have a real team involved with my diabetes care. It’s nice to join the modern world of diabetes care. It’s nice to feel like this will be a meaningful change in my diabetes, my health, and my life.

And even if it means dealing with Edgepark Medical Supplies again, I’m excited to start wearing my insulin pump.