What to expect on first appt with the diabetes nurse?

[Julie25]

My surgery rang me today after I had my HbA1c test done last Thursday. I’m to have an urgent F2F meeting in the surgery with a nurse on Friday so I assume my levels must be over the threshold for pre-diabetes. I’d be interested to hear what i might expect to happen at that first physical appointment, I’m to get a phone consultation a few days later with the diabetes nurse. This isn’t entirely a shock, I’m overweight and my Dad, brother and uncle all have Type 2.

 

[Sharron1]

When I had my first chat I knew there wouldn't be much time given to it. So I put together a list of questions in order of most importance. It really helped. I continue to do this. Hope it goes ok

 

[Lucyr]

I imagine they will weigh you, take blood pressure, and give some advice on diet and lifestyle. If you have diabetes they could also check your feet. If you aren’t currently on medication then metformin would usually be the first medication reccomended.

 

[zuludog]

Lucyr has it about right for the F2F meeting, and with that and the phone call you should also get an explanation of the test and the numbers & results, and a plan of action for the next few weeks & months

Depending on how well organised the practice is, you should also get a stack of information leaflets and so on

Besides that, have a look on this Forum at previous Threads & Posts, especially Newcomers, Food & Carbs, and Weight Loss
A bit of homework will help you understand what they're talking about and the jargon, and give you ideas for questions you need to ask

If it is diabetes, although you say it is not unexpected, let's reassure you that it is not the end of the world, and if it is controlled properly you can live well with diabetes - though this will require a bit if effort and changes on your part

Let us know how you go on, and come back with any questions you might have

 

[Windy]

I also had a heart trace. The nurse put 8 pads on my chest, arms and ankles and wired me up to a computer. The GP looked at the traces in a separate appointment and said my heart looked ok. I had a short chat with the nurse about what foods I was eating and she weighed me. I think I had my urine samples sent away to check for protein too, but that may have been a different appointment.

 

[Julie25]

Thank you all for your advice and kind wishes x

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope your appointment goes well today @Julie25

Do ask for specific numbers / results of any tests or checks that have been done. You may not understand them immediately, but folks here may be able to explain, or you will be able to look up the checks and what they mean later. Sometimes nurses will simply say that something is ‘normal’ or ‘elevated’ without offering the detail of the numbers themselves. Very helpful to have your actual numbers in the long term - partly because it will allow you to observe any changes or direction of travel with future results.

Come back and ask here if there’s anything that confuses you, and experienced members here may be able to suggest helpful questions to ask in the phone follow-up appointment.

Let us know how things go 🙂

 

[Julie25]

Hope your appointment goes well today @Julie25

Do ask for specific numbers / results of any tests or checks that have been done. You may not understand them immediately, but folks here may be able to explain, or you will be able to look up the checks and what they mean later. Sometimes nurses will simply say that something is ‘normal’ or ‘elevated’ without offering the detail of the numbers themselves. Very helpful to have your actual numbers in the long term - partly because it will allow you to observe any changes or direction of travel with future results.

Come back and ask here if there’s anything that confuses you, and experienced members here may be able to suggest helpful questions to ask in the phone follow-up appointment.

Let us know how things go 🙂

First appt went well, my HbA1c was 56 so well over the trigger point. I’ll be having my first chat with our diabetes nurse on Wednesday. I’ve made a list using the care planner from the Learning Zone so I think I’m ready for it

 

[rebrascora]

Whilst 56 is definitely into diabetic territory, it is only a little over the threshold of 48, so it shouldn't be too difficult to push that back. There are quite a few people on the forum who were up into 3 figures and managed to bring it down, so you are looking at conquering a small hill rather than a mountain in that sense. You shouldn't have to be too radical with your diet to make progress on that.

 

[Felinia]

Hi and welcome
You are just into the diabetic range so hopefully your nurses will give you the opportunity to bring down your level with lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) rather than go straight in with medications (which do have side effects). With a family history of diabetes, you are probably aware that reducing carbs can help lower glucose and weight. I suggest you keep a food diary (I have mine on an app and got it as soon as I was diagnosed). If you decide to get a blood glucose monitor and monitor before and 2 hours after each meal, you will soon work out which foods affect you. Lots of suggestions on the Food/Recipes section of the Forum.
The other thing is that now you are in the system you should get regular check ups - at least every year. Mine include the tests already mentioned, plus eye screening, cholesterol check, and liver and kidney function monitored. I look on it as a "well woman" check up.