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Welcome to Diabetes Buddies
The Forum where Diabetics Help Diabetics!

General Diabetes Discussion: Problems with Diabetes Information Systems?

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    • CommentAuthorfoggy8
    • CommentTimeJan 31st 2008
     

    Hi everyone!

    I am a final year student studying for an information systems degree at the University of Bath in the UK. I am on this forum to do a little research for my project which is aiming to enhance the use of Information Systems in the treatment of diabetes.

    I myself am not a diabetic, and would like to find out more about any of the concerns or problems you may be experiencing using IT-enabled diabetes systems. These can be ones that are used directly or in-directly by yourself.

    For example, possible problem areas could be:
    - the usability of web-based glucose monitoring systems
    - the understanding of your own diabetic condition from information your healthcare provider has used to monitor you

    I am sure there are many more problem areas you would like to share and discuss! :thumbup:

    • CommentAuthorCaroline W
    • CommentTimeJan 31st 2008
     

    I mainly use this site and www.diabetes.org.uk with no problems. I have found many useful sites, but working in a major refrence library I also have access to a large ammount of printed items too.

    My main stumbling point is my GP, and getting information out of him is harder than pulling teeth from a chicken!

    Good luck with all your endevours.

    • CommentAuthorfoggy8
    • CommentTimeJan 31st 2008
     

    Thanks Caroline!

    You mentioned that you have problems getting information from your GP. Could you possibly expand on this? This is precisely the kind of problem area where we think that I.S. can be used to help. There are already systems that have been developed that encourage frequent interactions and the sharing of knowledge between the patient and provider, and I hope to develop this further.

    If you could perhaps tell me the kind of information you would like to obtain from your GP, that would be very useful.

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    On the whole I get a five minute appointment with my GP.

    When I was getting my mediacl exemption certificate, my GP said he didn't know anything about them. I needed a bin to put the sharps from my glucose meter in and he said I had to ask the hospital, yet the receptionist gave me one when I asked.

    I asked about the side effects from the different tablets and he said I had to read the instructions and leaflets.

    My husband has osteoarthritis and my GP is just not interestead or doesn't care about the pain he is in.

    I hope this helps. It would be nice to improve the service we get for everyone....

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      CommentAuthorBestBuddy
    • CommentTimeFeb 3rd 2008
     

    Its the whole testing process that I have problems with.

    Its difficult for me to predict whether I will be free or not 2 months in advance, and then the whole process takes far longer than it needs to when I attend the appointment.
    It would be far better for me if I could do all the test using home kits and transfer the data over the internet somehow.

    • CommentAuthorC.W
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2008
     

    The medical world is very educated, and often forget we don't have the same level of understanding in their field. I see it in the curators I work with, all highly intelegent specialists with very little understanding of anything else.

    I am told that my GP has the equivilent of three docotors worth of patients on his books, so I can see why he doesn't have time for longer than a 5 minute slot for each person. It doesn't help when all of us are looking for information and/or reassurance. I'd love to walk into the docs and say this is what is happening to me and be able to spend the time I need tlking to him rtaher than being pushed out. It would be better if we could all have that nice relaxed time...

    • CommentAuthorfoggy8
    • CommentTimeFeb 13th 2008
     

    Thanks for all your comments.

    A common problem seems to be the lack of time that a patient is allowed for each consultation with a healthcare provider, making it difficult to fully explain the patients' situation in the short time frame.

    What I would like to find out is exactly what types of information you exchange in these consultations, and what other information would be useful to know if you were given an unlimited amount of face-to-face time with your healthcare provider?

    • CommentAuthorDray
    • CommentTimeFeb 13th 2008 edited
     

    Hmm prob is with your question is that it assumes that forum posters are diabetes veterans.

    And even vets find niggly bit's they need help with - but these accumulate over time. (For them)

    Diabetes is an on-going experience, and my experience is that that the professionals are picking up
    the info as fast as the 'users' do. It'd be wrong to assume the healthcare professionals are any more
    intelligent or informed than the diabetic community m8. :)

    I think it's worth exploring the concept that the info, to the net connected (and not all are) means the same
    ifo is available to the healthcare professionals. So faced with a health care professional, they've studied similar
    or same resources.

    err.... hope that makes some sense

    :bigsmile:

    • CommentAuthorCaroline W
    • CommentTimeFeb 14th 2008
     

    I think Dray has part of it. It is all the little niggles I'd like to spend time talking about.

    I tell my docotr my feet feel numb in the morning and I have problems making a fist-your diabetes is out of control, I tell my docotor I keep getting headaches he says your diabetes is out of control and any other little worry I go with it always comes back to the diabetes. It never occurs to him to check anything else, my nan had rheumatoid arthritis which affected her hands and feet, five generatrions of women on my mothers side of the family had breast cancer, so I am worried, but my docotor (male so not worried about breast cancer) is totally unconcerned, always it's the diabetes. The next nearest docotors are a bus ride away, and their books are closed to all but children due to overdemand.

    • CommentAuthorCaroline W
    • CommentTimeFeb 15th 2008
     

    Our practice nurses are good, but alas there are a lot of things they are not allowed to do.

    I had been to my GP with a lot of silly symptoms like always peeing, itchy legs and other places, always thirsty, always wanting to sleep and he just pushed it away. Then I started to loose weight without trying, which he still took no notice of.

    At work we started having regular healthcare events where I had the finger prick test. The nurse that did the test gave me a note for my manager and a sheet for my GP. When I managed to get an appointment with my GP (took about 2 weeks) he finally agreed to more tests and agreed I am diabetic. It only took about 18 months. If I had known before I could have taken steps to help myself.

    Actually this forum has helped me a lot as I can share my experiences and know I am not alone.

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