Anyone else a diabetic?

[mamaMD]

I am a diabetic....do you think that will hinder me in anyway of getting into medical school? Is it something I should keep to myself or talk about in my application/interviews?

Are there any fields it could keep me out of, the reason I ask is how does a diabetic surgeon perform an 6+ hours surgery without eating?

I guess I just sometimes imagine the very worse situation of my blood sugar getting to low and passing out on a patient or something!! But then again I can't be the only diabetic to go to medical school or be a successful physician.

Anything anyone would like to add on this subject would be great!

Marilyn

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[stinkycheese]

I have diabetes. Why are you going to tell schools during the admissions process? Once you are in, they have to reasonably accomodate your disability (ie, letting you scrub out to have a snack or check BG) since diabetes is not the kind of disability that you inhibit your practice of medicine (sensory, sight, motor coordination, etc)... also, you should be on Lantus or a pump to contol blood sugar spikes and drops. NPH is outdated and irregular. If you are very concerned, look into a pump. You can go all day without eating and not have a problem. Lantus works the same way but is less reliable.

 

[mamaMD]

I have diabetes. Why are you going to tell schools during the admissions process? QUOTE]

Well I didn't say I "was" going to tell them, I was just wondering if it was something I should tell them or keep to myself?

It has been a big factor in me being interested in becoming a doctor to begin with.

Marilyn

 

[stinkycheese]

Keep it to yourself. I understand that it is a big motivator towards becoming a physician; if you can't talk around it in your PS, then I guess you have to tell them. But I'm not going to because I don't want to open myself up to any bias. My GP and Endo are both on an Ad Com and both advised against saying anything.

 

[mamaMD]

Keep it to yourself. I understand that it is a big motivator towards becoming a physician; if you can't talk around it in your PS, then I guess you have to tell them. But I'm not going to because I don't want to open myself up to any bias. My GP and Endo are both on an Ad Com and both advised against saying anything.

Well that is what I was worried about, that the adcoms would be biased against me because of it. I manage very well with a strict diet and excercise and sometimes shots at night or when necessary (Im Type 2, the rest of my family is Type 1).

Marilyn

 

[stinkycheese]

If you're Type 2 then DEFINITELY DO NOT MENTION IT. Many doctors have a lot of prejudices against type 2 diabetics. They blame the disorder on laziness and overeating, and you do not want Ad Coms to think you are lazy. You and I both know that there is more to the development of type 2 than that, but a lot of doctors (even endos) feel annoyed by type 2's.

 

[mamaMD]

If you're Type 2 then DEFINITELY DO NOT MENTION IT. Many doctors have a lot of prejudices against type 2 diabetics. They blame the disorder on laziness and overeating, and you do not want Ad Coms to think you are lazy. You and I both know that there is more to the development of type 2 than that, but a lot of doctors (even endos) feel annoyed by type 2's.

Yep, that is true. And I am skinny, walk 5 miles a day yet still....... OK you brought up a good point there. Both my parents are Type 1 (juvenile onset for them, not for me) and I have Type 2.

Kind of frusterating....

Marilyn

 

[stinkycheese]

I'm a little overweight and yet I'm type 1. So much for stereotypes... go figure. Good luck.

 

[47534]

hmm so i have a friend who has epilepsy but she manages it very well, she's very good with her medications, and hasn't had a seizure in years. i think she mentioned something about it in her PS, about how having a chronic condition enabled her to develop more compassion, to view things from the patient's perspective, and to appreciate the field of medicine more. so do you think adcoms will look down on that too?

 

[mamaMD]

I'm a little overweight and yet I'm type 1. So much for stereotypes... go figure. Good luck.

Thanks, and good luck to you as well 🙂

 

[mamaMD]

hmm so i have a friend who has epilepsy but she manages it very well, she's very good with her medications, and hasn't had a seizure in years. i think she mentioned something about it in her PS, about how having a chronic condition enabled her to develop more compassion, to view things from the patient's perspective, and to appreciate the field of medicine more. so do you think adcoms will look down on that too?

Good question, I don't know.....

I would like to find out more about Dr's who deal with a chronic medical condition more though, but not sure where to look.

 

[47534]

I would like to find out more about Dr's who deal with a chronic medical condition more though, but not sure where to look.

i did a search on these forums for chronic conditions, and came up with this thread in the general residency forums:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=112251&highlight=chronic+condition

also one of the posters had listed in the thread these websites that you might find helpful...

"here's a link to center for disability issues and the health professions
http://www.westernu.edu/xp/edu/cdihp/pnp.xml

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/20...11/hlsa0911.htm

also, advocacy for admission of ppl with disability into med school:
http://www.physiatry.org/education/whitep1.html "

so while they don't focus on diabetes specifically, i hope you find them to be of some use to you...

 

[sportschick]

Heya,

A good book written by a doc who has a chronic disease is "Kitchen Table Wisdom" by Rachel Naomi Remen. It's a bunch of stories about her experiences in medicine as a woman, as a person with a chronic disease, and as a doctor trying to help her patients cope with serious ailments. It's worth reading - a little bit sentimental at times, but its still interesting.

As a patient myself, i dont think there is anything standing in the way of anyone with a chronic disease in their desire to become a doctor. As long as you know yourself and know how to manage your disease, its an achievable goal. Good luck to everyone here, we can do it 🙂

 

[shatter]

Thanks, and good luck to you as well 🙂

I wouldn't want anybody who had seizures to operate on me. Even if that person takes medicine regularly and never had a seizure again.

 

[47534]

I wouldn't want anybody who had seizures to operate on me. Even if that person takes medicine regularly and never had a seizure again.

well i can definitely see surgery out of the question, but she wants to go into neurology...

 

[lorelei]

I used to be acquainted with a very successful orthopedic trauma surgeon who's diabetic. He obviously had to be careful about his diet and all that, but it didn't stop him from getting out of bed at 3 in the morning to go operate on motorcycle crash victims all day long. It doesn't need to stand in your way. (I wouldn't bring it up in applications though.)

 

[ashkel]

I am a Type 1 diabetic, and I completely disagree with the idea that you shouldn't bring it up during the application process. I wrote about my experiences in my personal statement, and the subject ended up coming up in every single interview I had. I used my experiences with diabetes to show that I understand what it feels like to be a patient, and how in the end I think this will make me a better doctor. It certainly shows you a different side of health care. All of the interviewers were incredibly responsive and supportive of my situation. I think that if you are comfortable with the issue, there is no reason to hide it during the application process.

 

[stinkycheese]

I am sure there are many interviewers who are interested in hearing about the experience of a pre-med diabetic. But I'm also sure there are an equal number of Ad Coms who would not want to support a candidate with a chronic illness that is so prone to hospitalization, blackouts, and seizures.

 

[RoseLee]

Hi all,

As a Type I (on insulin pump for 13+ years), I struggle with putting it in my PS as well. However, it's such a significant part of me wanting to be a doctor that I can't figure out a way NOT to include it 🙂. (especially since I started wearing the pump b4 they were popular...)

So, even though I still struggle with the decision about whether or not to include it (I'm apply for entry in 2006), I think I will write about it (it will make my PS a much more intresting read..I've got some awesome stories to tell about my experiences) I will also note in my PS that IP therapy changed my life. Plus, I've never been hospitalized in 26 years for a low or ketoacidosis. (which was a lucky shot since I was diagnosed WAY before blood testing machines!)

Finally, I also have noticed a general disrespect for Type II's when shadowing my doctors. It seems most docs and the general public think the only cuase for type II is obesity...lose weight and you won't be diabetic. This is simply not true for everyone. (And so my education of folks I work with will continue....)

Good luck to everyone who deals with a chronic disease. I think it gives us a unique perspective on the practice of medicine 🙂!

Rosee

 

[sportschick]

I think its definitely a personal choice whether to include it or not in your application - theres nothing requiring you to, but certainly if its a huge motivator for your becoming a doctor, then you should include it. My PS is based alot on my experiences as a patient because as other people have said, it gives you a unique perspective on what ppl are experiencing and allows you to appreciate the process even more. It all comes down to what you are comfortable with and what your real motivation is to go to med school. Base it on that, not on your fear of whether an ADCOM will judge you. I know there are people that will judge you, but i guess my view is that if i can't get into a medical school because I acknowledge a very real part of my life, thats not a community i would want to be in. We'll do just fine, there will be plenty of schools that will take us! 🙂

 

[mamaMD]

It really makes me mad there is such a stereotype even in the medical community about Type 2 diabetics. Of course a lot of them are fat and if they loose weight glucose levels will return to normal but *over* half of the rest of Type 2 are within normal weight and they do not know the cause of it and a lot of Type 2 end up on insulin fully later on (but are still considered Type 2 I think).

But if there is so much negativity about it, I don't think I will mention it at all for fear some adcom might think I am lazy or something. Ya I guess I am lazy being a mother of 2, full time student, homeschooling my oldest who is 6, wife, volunteer work, etc Sorry just had to rant a bit there....

Its like I have to feel ashamed about this ya know? I am really glad to have ya'll to talk to about this!

I went online and looked it up and this is the type of Type 2 that I have, just for your info as pre-meds like myself or medical students:

Maturity-Onset Diabetes in Caucasian Youth. Maturity-onset diabetes in youth (MODY) is a rare genetic form of type 2 diabetes that develops only in Caucasian teenagers. It accounts for 2% to 5% of type 2 cases. (This form of diabetes type 2 is not associated with obesity.)

Marilyn