Diabetes: A Good Doctor is the Difference Between Living or Not

Dr. Andrew Drexler is one of the most thorough, intelligent, helpful, no-nonsense, (under-recognized), candid, dedicated, (humorous) physicians I have ever met over the course of having diabetes -- that's 35 years!  I still don't think that any of these superlatives do him justice.  Why?   He saved my life.  Twice.  Then he saved another life.  And I know I am in good company as I recently found out that he takes care of Chief Justice Sotomayor too - although he would never dare tell me -- that confidentiality is sacred.

So it was with satisfaction that I read his name in USA Today this morning under the headline, Type 1 Affects Every Aspect of Daily Life, and speaking from his heart about diabetes to the USA Today reporter, Dr. Andrew Drexler says:

"It is always there. You can never get away from it."

Andy Drexler was never one to mince words.

I first met him in 1995 while I was living/working in Manhattan; a friend had introduced me to another Type 1 named Fran Carpentier, and she gave me Andrew Drexler's details.  I owe her thanks too, because at that first appointment I was scared and rather ill.  I was working 15 hour days in NYC and I could just feel the sticky weightiness of a high A1c.  It was over 11.  I was upset and embarrassed - I cried, and he didn't mind a bit.  "Give yourself a break kid -- we'll work on this together - even though it may take a little while"  and sounding just like a modern day Groucho Marx he cocked his head and led me into another room to meet the other most fantastic person in the practice world - Carolyn Robertson - the diabetes specialist for training and managing blood sugars - APRN, MSN, CDE.  You get the idea.  Within months, I was down to a 7 A1c.

Fast forward five years later.  I am working in London and a newlywed.  I have been told in no uncertain terms (and even with a hint of sarcasm) "Do not get pregnant just yet.  We need to get your pump sorted" But I did, and I called the Mount Sinai clinic in 2000 to tell Andy the news.  He wasn't happy, but underscored the high-risk necessity of my finding the right obstetrician and the right hospital.  It wasn't long before I moved back to Manhattan - London just didn't have what I needed.  During my 26th week of pregnancy, and while walking along one of the vast Upper West-side corridors - Columbus Avenue - I collapsed.  I was immediately hospitalized.  Everything (the cardiologists, gastroenterologists, neurologists and any other care) was all orchestrated by Andy.  I stayed in the Mount Sinai Hospital until she was born by emergency c-section, eight weeks later.   Dr. Andrew Drexler had saved my life again x 2.

Today Andrew Drexler and Carolyn Robertson still work together, although the Diabetes Clinic at Mount Sinai (where Andy was Director) closed down a few years back.  No matter, he was soon scooped up by LA and  is now Director of the Gonda Diabetes Center at UCLA.  What a loss for New York. (Mayor Bloomberg - are you reading this?)  Carolyn Robertson still practices in Manhattan (NY) but flies out to LA once a month to spend time with Andy's patients. I believe they care for patients from all over the world- not just the lucky ones in Santa Monica.  I flew over to LA last summer to see them, and will probably go back this spring.

In fact I may just have to move to Los Angeles (I hate the place) but that's just how good he is.