The Michael Jordan of Managing Your Health Care

Just in case you missed my original posts, the jest of it was to take the team approach in managing your health care, whereas the doctor is just another player on your team, albeit the Michael Jordan of the team, but you’re still the coach. If you feel your doctor is not working “with you” then maybe it’s time to trade him/her. It’s been my experience that most doctors want their patients to take an active approach in managing their health care. So on the rare chance you have one that doesn’t, remember there are more doctors that would enjoy being a part of your team. I remember when I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I told my doctor I wanted to manage it via diet and lifestyle changes he gave me a “passive” okay, but first guided me to get it under control with meds. Three months later when he saw my results he was astonished, “David, when you first told me you wanted to do this I was like ‘okay, sure’. So many of my patients say this but hardly any accomplish it. You are one of the few that actually did it. This is AWESOME!!” Granted, I did move a bit faster than what he wanted but then again, I’m determined not to lose a limb on this journey.

I don’t need the outcome of a research study to tell me individualize treatment based on patient preferences is successful. Honestly, based on how the article is written maybe doctors are the ones that need confirmation. In any case, the care I receive from my doctor, my Michael Jordan, is individualize to my needs and preferences. It’s not the routine diabetic care of “here take 20mg of this.” Which would later increased to 40mg, then 60mg. A change in medication to the latest and greatest drug compound and/or combination. To eventually be put on insulin shots when the pills stop working. Then at some point thereafter, I would hear these words, “we need to amputate your foot.” No sirrrr, not me!