May 25, 2002
Other
Question from Winter Haven, Florida, USA:
My eight year old daughter has had diabetes for about twenty months, and does not have optimal control. The problem is that her doctor has one answer for everything, “well no one is sure, diabetes is very complicated”. Obviously, we are searching for a new doctor. There is a shortage in our area, and we can only be seen twice a year.
Answer:
There is no reason you should be limited to seeing a specialist for pediatric diabetes only twice a year. Please look at the Consensus Guidelines 2000: ISPAD Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Insulin-Dependent (Type 1) Diabetes (IDDM) in Childhood and Adolescence. There are many articles that would refute such recommendations including those that our team wrote for Diabetes Spectrum. Your local library could get a copy of this on your behalf.
This action by your insurance company is absurd. If your insurance company so insists, get a lawyer. If your primary care doctor so insists, change primary care doctors.
SB
