When it's difficult to talk to your caregiver

If you sometimes find it difficult to talk to your doctor or another caregiver, you are not the only one. In the health care system, there are many words and expressions that we do not use in everyday life, and it can be extra difficult if you don't feel so secure with the Danish language. You may also find that you and your caregiver think differently about health, illness and treatment. In addition, you can also have different approaches to what is your task and what is the task of your caregiver.

In this short film, I'll explain to you some of the things you might be wondering about, and give you advice on how to best talk to your doctor and other caregivers about your diabetes. When you have type 2 diabetes, it is usually your own doctor or perhaps a nurse at the doctor’s clinic that you are most in contact with concerning your illness and treatment. You may also encounter other caregivers in connection with your diabetes. These can for example be employees of the municipality or the hospital who can assist you with your diabetes. You can find out more about this in the film 'Who can you encounter when you have type 2 diabetes and what can they help you with?'.

Diabetes is a disease where it is not just about your medicine. The food you eat, how much physical activity you have in your everyday routine and how you are feeling can all affect your blood sugar. For more information, see Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Therefore, the task of your caregiver is not only to provide you with medication and keep an eye on your illness. The task of your caregiver is also to help you find out how to live well with diabetes on a daily basis.

Therefore, you may experience that your caregiver asks many different questions. Perhaps he/she will ask about what you eat and how much physical activity you have in your everyday routine. Perhaps he/she will ask if there is anything that concerns you about diabetes. Perhaps he/she will also ask about issues of a more private nature. For example, he/she might ask about the more intimate parts of your relationship, because these can also be affected when you have type 2 diabetes. It may seem unacceptable to you, but remember that your caregiver asks questions in order to help you, not because she is curious about your private life. Please also remember that your caregiver is subject to professional secrecy. This means that he/she may not communicate what you say to others unless you allow him/her to do so.

If your caregiver says something you don't understand, it's okay to say: I did not understand that. Can you please explain it differently?' Or 'Why do you ask this question?' Then your caregiver will have to explain it to you in a different way.

If you have serious problems understanding your caregiver, your caregiver can summon an interpreter who can translate during the conversation. It can be good to have a family member or a friend with you when you go to the doctor or other caregivers. But remember, it's not always a good idea that someone you know well is your interpreter. It's better that the interpreter is someone who knows the health care system and is neutral in the conversation between you and your caregiver. In addition, it is also good to know that an interpreter is also subject to confidentiality.

Before you go to a doctor or another treatment, it's a great idea to prepare yourself from home. You can do this with a relative, this can for example be family or a good friend. For example, you can think about which are the questions where it is important that you receive answers. If you write these questions down, it will be easier to remember them when you are with your caretaker.