Type 2 and Heel pain

[CathyFP]

Hi
I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabbetes in September (HbA1c of 59) I am taking 500mg of Metformin daily. I am not at all overweight and eat heathily and exercise but there is diabetes in my family. I have been feeling fine but now have a couple of questions:

1- Heel pain - For the last week o two I have had a dull ache in both my heels most of the time. It's not that bad and if not for my diabetes diagnosis I would probably ignore it and hope that it goes away. However I know that with diabetes, foot problems are common. I'm wondering whether to try to get a GP appointment for this or whether they will just laugh at me. What could my GP do? Should I try to get an appointment.

2-My other question is really more general about Diabetes care from your GP. I have not even been able to have a conversation with my GP about Diabetes. Everything has been done via brief telephone conversations. What kind of support should I expect from my GP for my diabetes and if there is no real support where else can I get help? How do I find a Diabetes specialist nurse for example?

thanks

 

[Lucyr]

For the heel pain, if you’ve read about it online and tried the basic stretches explained online already and it hasn’t helped then yes you could make an appointment to speak to the GP about it. They won’t laugh at you.

For diabetes in general as a type 2 you should expect to be seen once a year, for a foot check, blood pressure and weight check and blood tests. This is not usually done by a GP but by a health care assistant or nurse. You should have a seperate appointment to check your eyes. If your results are above target then you should expect a phone call or in person discussion with a nurse at your GP practice or with the GP themselves to decide on any changes to medication and when you need to have the blood tests repeated.

I wouldn’t expect a T2 to see a diabetes specialist nurse unless there’s anything more complicated going on eg I first saw one at the hospital when I was starting multiple insulin injections per day.

 

[Leadinglights]

Your heel pain sounds as if it could be plantar fasciitis which is something that wearing orthotic insoles in your shoes may help with. Somewhere like Shuropody or a Scholl foot care centre would be able to assess.