"Emergency Department"

Recently I had to attend the emergency department (ED) as I had run out of insulin. I was working in the area of Nedlands. As a type 1 diabetic on an insulin pump, I had no background insulin (long active) to keep my levels stable long enough to travel home to get my supply which would have taken 2hrs. I was unable to get into a local GP in the area.

Within waiting 20 minutes to be triaged, my sugar levels had gone from 6.9 to 14.5 and was continuing to rise. The nurse who triaged me was hesitant to put me in Fast Track as my levels had jumped in such a short time frame but I believe the doctor overseeing them said to fast track me as I was just after a script.

Overall the wait between being triaged to being seen by a doctor was very quick, however, the doctor who came out to the waiting area from Fast Track started to have a go at me for presenting to the ED for a script. I felt this doctor seemed to have little to no understanding of type 1 diabetes and the dangers that come with high sugar levels. I felt the doctor was very condescending and was making me explain to them the reasons why I presented to ED in front of everyone in the waiting room.

I felt the situation to be embarrassing and that my medical information and privacy was breached. As an Aboriginal person who manages a chronic health condition and regularly has to come into contact with WA health, I felt as if I was being judged for not having enough insulin on me rather than looking at the issue that my sugar levels were rising.

Had I not presented to the ED but travelled the 2hrs home, I believe the likelihood of my high sugar levels developing into ketones would have occurred and the possibility of a hospital admission was likely. I believe I was trying to be proactive and prevent a hospital admission but instead was left embarrassed and feeling judged.