
As Dr. Harlan and I headed back to the offices I saw framed photos of people that I didn't know. I learned that these people are patients and have their own little write ups just like the famous people out in the waiting room. As diabetics it doesn't matter if your a rock star or a middle school student, the disease doesn't change. While in the office I was shown the My Care Team software. It is amazing, patients can upload information from their blood glucose monitor and the My Care Team software stores all of it. It gives you all of your information in graphs, alerts you when you have been low or high at the same times, records a patients A1C. Once the data is stored, physicians, care providers, and family members can use the tool to monitor glucose levels, understand lab values, and examine the effects that exercise and diet have on a patient’s health. It is amazing technology and I encourage everyone to check out the Quick Tour of the technology.
I was honored to be a guest of Dr. Harlans and I love the dedication that he and his staff have for making life for people living with diabetes a little easier. The doctor patient relationship is one of the major components in diabetes management. As patients we need to remember that the doctors are people and don't have super powers. They have the same everyday concerns as everyone else and once we learn that and accept a doctor as a normal person it opens the door for a very strong relationship. With a strong relationship you are more likely to ask the tough questions and not be embarrassed. As patients it is our job to trust and respect our doctor. With a strong relationship I can guarantee better blood glucose readings and a lower A1C.