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What is a Diabetic Review

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K

Katiekay

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello,
I am wondering if anyone can help me, I don't know where to turn. My Husband was diagnosed with type 2 around three years ago.
I have to be honest in saying I don’t think he has taken this seriously. He now takes medication , 5 tablets a day. When he was diagnosed his sugars were of the scale. Apart from taking the tablets he has not changed his life style and I think At the moment it could be worse. He is eating like crazy and I think lost weight.

In the last three years he has never gone back to see a doctor only repeat prescriptions for his medication and excuses for not attending. We have now moved house and I was able to change doctors and make appointments for us both. My husband was given a Diabetic review appointment which he is happy to go to. Since knowing he has the appointment in two days he has cut out all sugar and eating sensibly I am guessing he is doing this so he gets a good reading when he goes.

My concern is it won’t be a true reading and therefor we won’t know if his current medication is correct.
I feel so terrible with this post but I am so concerned.
what does a diabetic review involve and will it really help if they are not seeing the true person or diet.

Many thanks for reading this ,

kay
 
Hi @Katiekay The blood test he will have done is called an HbA1c and it measures the amount of glucose bound to his red blood cells. Since red cells live, an average, around 3 months the test measures his average blood glucose over that period. A few days of cutting out sugar will not help.

He should have blood drawn for an HbA1c, cholesterol and kidney function. In addition they will measure his height and weight and will check the pulses in his ankle and feet and sensation in his feet.
 
adrian1der said:
He should have blood drawn for an HbA1c, cholesterol and kidney function. In addition they will measure his height and weight and will check the pulses in his ankle and feet and sensation in his feet.
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Quite likely talk about any symptoms, too. Maybe test a urine sample too (for kidney function) but that's usually a morning sample so they'd have asked about that.
 
Hello Adrian,
Thank you so much for your reply. I am so happy that the test will see more than the next few days.
I don’t want to catch him out,I just want him to stay well and see what is really going on With
out being boss.
wow, I have just read your post, amazing Job on your weight loss.
many thanks,

Kay
 
Katiekay said:
Hello Adrian,
Thank you so much for your reply. I am so happy that the test will see more than the next few days.
I don’t want to catch him out,I just want him to stay well and see what is really going on With
out being boss.
wow, I have just read your post, amazing Job on your weight loss.
many thanks,

Kay
Click to expand...
An HbA1c is heavily weighted towards the last 10 days when most of the blood in circulation was made.
 
Thank you Burylancs. i am sure we will catch a few of the Ten Days that would be my husbands normal diet,sugar level etc. He woke up yesterday stating he was cutting out sugar, I know this is just being done for the appointment. I know it can’t be easy but I think we just need to know what we are dealing with and what we can do. If he is taking the right medication etc.
The appointment is on Thursday morning.

Many thanks for all the posts.
kay
 
There is also an outside chance that the nurse might waken him up to treating things a bit more seriously. Will depend very much on his/her level of "people" skills which if you look at members experiences can be a bit variable!
 
Docb said:
There is also an outside chance that the nurse might waken him up to treating things a bit more seriously. Will depend very much on his/her level of "people" skills which if you look at members experiences can be a bit variableI
Click to expand...
 
I am crossing my fingers for exactly that.
its like my husband almost thinks the medication works so that’s it.

He is very much over weight and I hope this is mentioned at the review. He is obsessed with sugar being the only problem. He has never actually had an appointment due to his Diabetes so this one may help.
even though it has been 3 years I know my husband will know very little about type 2, what it can do and the damage it can cause.I am afraid me telling him is not helping or head in sand.

Many Thanks
 
Crossing my fingers for a “Bingo moment” where he just gets it.
I would like him around and healthy for a long time.
 
If the DSN is worth her salt then being over weight will feature in their conversation.

The DSN at our surgery once told me that her biggest problem was to get patients to recognise that it was the patient who had to take control, all she could do was advise and encourage.

Keep your fingers crossed!
 
Docb said:
If the DSN is worth her salt then being over weight will feature in their conversation.

The DSN at our surgery once told me that her biggest problem was to get patients to recognise that it was the patient who had to take control, all she could do was advise and encourage.

Keep your fingers crossed!
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Many Thanks, lets hope it all goes well
 
@Katiekay Even if your husband has cut down on sugar, does he even know that refined carbohydrates start breaking down into glucose (the type of sugar carried in the blood) within moments of meeting saliva in the mouth - so any bread, pasta, flour or even potato could scupper his plan even if he'd started weeks ago!
 
The other thing that is likely to happen is that he will be referred for an eye test to look for retinopathy. I have just had my regular review which included blood tests for the HbA1c, kidney and urine functions, plus an actual urine sample. My weight, blood pressure and pulse were recorded, and my feet given the tickle test. I was asked questions about my lifestyle including level of exercise. The test results were posted to my secure online portal and I will be discussing them with the DN tomorrow. At my first review, I was referred to a diabetic nurse for advice on diet, and also for the Type 2 training course. Things have changed with COVID but I think courses are still run online. Can your husband be persuaded to work through the Learning Zone (orange tab on top)?
 
Felinia said:
The other thing that is likely to happen is that he will be referred for an eye test to look for retinopathy. I have just had my regular review which included blood tests for the HbA1c, kidney and urine functions, plus an actual urine sample. My weight, blood pressure and pulse were recorded, and my feet given the tickle test. I was asked questions about my lifestyle including level of exercise. The test results were posted to my secure online portal and I will be discussing them with the DN tomorrow. At my first review, I was referred to a diabetic nurse for advice on diet, and also for the Type 2 training course. Things have changed with COVID but I think courses are still run online. Can your husband be persuaded to work through the Learning Zone (orange tab on top)?
Click to expand...
Oh I didn't realise that they can check kidney function from the Hba1c. I thought that it could only be done from a separate urine sample. Have I understood it correctly?
 
Sharron1 said:
Oh I didn't realise that they can check kidney function from the Hba1c. I thought that it could only be done from a separate urine sample. Have I understood it correctly?
Click to expand...
The kidney function is done via a blood test 🙂
 
Pumper_Sue said:
The kidney function is done via a blood test 🙂
Click to expand...
So much to learn. I did wonder why i had my blood tests but stuff re kidney function appeared. Good. I hate peeing in that little bottle. It's a nightmare for me. More miss than hit
 
Sharron1 said:
So much to learn. I did wonder why i had my blood tests but stuff re kidney function appeared. Good. I hate peeing in that little bottle. It's a nightmare for me. More miss than hit
Click to expand...
I suspect the tests are testing different things, and the urine test will stay.
 
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