Relationship building in T1D care is so important.
Relationships build trust. They create a foundation of respect. And they help healthcare treat people like people, not like their conditions.
This post is all about an endocrinologist who practiced the fundamentals of relationship building long before it was ever considered a thing.
The man. The myth. The legend.
The other night I was at a T1D research event in Vancouver, learning all about current T1D research happening right here in my neck of the woods.
So much research filled my brain.
Super cool stuff that my brain is still trying to process.
As I was reading through one of the poster boards, I heard a voice.
A very, very distinctive voice.
A voice I hadn’t heard in close to 30 years.
Meet Dr. Dan.
Dan Metzger is an endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital.
I was one of his first patients. And he was the FIRST doctor and healthcare professional who treated me like I was not completely failing at diabetes. Never once did I feel shame or judgement in his presence. But rather, I remember lots of laughter and smiles.
Now, friends, that statement above is pretty significant. I was very much an angsty, angry, anti all things diabetes teenager for the two years Dr. Dan was caring for me. And yet, after our first visit, I looked forward to follow up visits.
When my time at BC Children’s came to an end, and Dr. Dan asked me what kind of endocrinologist I wanted to take over my care, I responded: “someone exactly like you!”
The trend of Dr. Dan
Dr. Dan was the first doctor to instill in me the importance of building a strong, foundational relationship between the healthcare provider and the patient / client.
I have been fairly fortunate over the last 28 years, since leaving BC Children’s (yes, Dr. Dan, you do have a former patient that old), with the endocrinologists that I’ve worked with; only butting heads with one out of three. My current relationship, which has continued to evolve over the last five years, is very comfortable, very strong, and very respectful. Having that relationship with Dr. Dan made it so that I wouldn’t settle for anything less.
His care and his actions (and his voice!!) have stayed with me for almost 30 years. And now, as a healthcare professional myself, I take some of those early relationship building lessons into my own care with my T1D clients.
Why this matters
People with type-1 diabetes are more than just their diabetes. We have a right to be treated that way. Relationships in healthcare help facilitate that treatment.