Can you help us improve the info we give people at T2 diagnosis?

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Josh DUK

Josh DUK

Former Online Community and Learning Manager
Staff member
Relationship to Diabetes
At risk of diabetes
Over 2023, our Content team is reviewing the printed information we offer for people who’ve had a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. We know that diagnosis is a really important time, and people can experience a range of feelings and the support they get can be quite varied. We want to offer the best printed information that we can.

We’re looking for feedback on our current publications from people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and those who support them. If you’ve used any of our info around the time of diagnosis, we’d really appreciate it if you could fill in this short survey so that we can get a wide range of feedback: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/type-2-information/

Josh DUK
 
Sarahp said:
Great to see, how will be emailed out to members as well?
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I think its mainly for printed information at the moment.
 
Sarahp said:
Hi Josh I mean the survey, if it’s emailed out to members as well you will get a far bigger response!
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I think they already did. I think they are trying to reach as many people as possible.
 
I think that sometimes patients aren’t given the right information from their doctor to begin with. When I was told that I was diabetic, all I was told was “here, have metformin, eat less than 50g sugar a day and you’ll be fine. No need to monitor or anything. Just metformin.”

It was only when I got to speak to the diabetic specialist nurse (who is an absolute saint) that we managed to go through every single thing, from diet and carbs to being offered insulin and monitoring as I’m on so many other medications and have to take daily oral steroids as a matter of routine. My diabetic nurse has been amazing about it all and helped me make positive changes and guided me through the process.

The other thing I have noticed is that there is a stigma around type 2 and certain lifestyle choices. It’s not right. And it’s not fair. No one asks for an illness and they should never be made to feel ashamed of it.
 
SacrificedSin87 said:
I think that sometimes patients aren’t given the right information from their doctor to begin with. When I was told that I was diabetic, all I was told was “here, have metformin, eat less than 50g sugar a day and you’ll be fine. No need to monitor or anything. Just metformin.”

It was only when I got to speak to the diabetic specialist nurse (who is an absolute saint) that we managed to go through every single thing, from diet and carbs to being offered insulin and monitoring as I’m on so many other medications and have to take daily oral steroids as a matter of routine. My diabetic nurse has been amazing about it all and helped me make positive changes and guided me through the process.

The other thing I have noticed is that there is a stigma around type 2 and certain lifestyle choices. It’s not right. And it’s not fair. No one asks for an illness and they should never be made to feel ashamed of it.
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Have a look at the survey, definitely worth adding these comments to it!
 
SacrificedSin87 said:
The other thing I have noticed is that there is a stigma around type 2 and certain lifestyle choices. It’s not right. And it’s not fair. No one asks for an illness and they should never be made to feel ashamed of it.
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So true!
 
SacrificedSin87 said:
I think that sometimes patients aren’t given the right information from their doctor to begin with. When I was told that I was diabetic, all I was told was “here, have metformin, eat less than 50g sugar a day and you’ll be fine. No need to monitor or anything. Just metformin.”

It was only when I got to speak to the diabetic specialist nurse (who is an absolute saint) that we managed to go through every single thing, from diet and carbs to being offered insulin and monitoring as I’m on so many other medications and have to take daily oral steroids as a matter of routine. My diabetic nurse has been amazing about it all and helped me make positive changes and guided me through the process.

The other thing I have noticed is that there is a stigma around type 2 and certain lifestyle choices. It’s not right. And it’s not fair. No one asks for an illness and they should never be made to feel ashamed of it.
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yes , if I could let the stigma go and stop using it yo whip myself with maybe i would feel better.
 
I found that it can be a mixture. A DSN when I was newly diagnosed said to the whole team "Eventually, you will all go onto insulin!". My then doctor was livid she said "there are many diabetes patients who have been on Metformin for decades, and never needed insulin!"
Needless to say, she was not impressed with the DSN's statement
 
On another note, I found when I took metformin just after breakfast OR took two after lunch, I would feel a tad weak, as if my sugar was too low.
Therefore, I spoke to my doctor, and agreed one after lunch, two in the evening. It works for me. I think over past year was drinking too much Pepsi Max and Chocolate, biscuits and cakes that did it.
 
One day like pain they will get it its not that some cant take pain. Pain does hurt people more than others. Diabetes is affected by what you eat but im sorry if your body cannot cope if you eat sugar i dont believe its just food . Your body is not working as it should.
Health pros should stop blame n shame.
Why? because I say so .
 
People are often not given information about how the various medications they may be prescribed actually work so they are under misapprehensions that they will act as a magic bullet without any lifestyle changes. People imagine that for example metformin acts directly on the food they eat because they are advised to take it with food which is to help with any stomach issues.
A simple summary of the range of medications that people may be given would be helpful.
 
Leadinglights said:
People are often not given information about how the various medications they may be prescribed actually work so they are under misapprehensions that they will act as a magic bullet without any lifestyle changes. People imagine that for example metformin acts directly on the food they eat because they are advised to take it with food which is to help with any stomach issues.
A simple summary of the range of medications that people may be given would be helpful.
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Now, funny enough I was advised to take it after my food
 
rustee2011 said:
Now, funny enough I was advised to take it after my food
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If people are suffering stomach issues the suggestion is to take mid meal, a sort of metformin sandwich so to speak which can help as does taking with a substantial meal rather than just a snack.
 
Leadinglights said:
People are often not given information about how the various medications they may be prescribed actually work so they are under misapprehensions that they will act as a magic bullet without any lifestyle changes. People imagine that for example metformin acts directly on the food they eat because they are advised to take it with food which is to help with any stomach issues.
A simple summary of the range of medications that people may be given would be helpful.
Click to expand...
My doctor was so unhelpful just saying “oh well, take the pills and you’ll feel better. The nurse will call you and you can discuss it with her.” She didn’t even say anything about lifestyle or things to avoid. My nurse though was incredible. She listened. She agreed and got me a glucose monitor (as I’m on several medications that can cause sugar levels to rise) and gave me advice on everything. She said that I should’ve been started on insulin as my levels were very high. Since then, there’s been so much improvement,
 
Don't get me started on the Type 2 Stigma, I still get a lecture about healthy this and healthy that from my father every time I see him and then half hour later...."do you want a chocolate biscuit?"!

I've been Type 2 for two and a bit years, whilst my Doctor Surgery has been really good with helping me mange my diabetes, I still seem to've fallen down a couple of medical traps! I've been taking Statins for a number of years (prior to my Diabetes diagnosis) for High Cholesterol; but in the last 6 months I can now add to my pile of conditions, Hypertension and last Sunday, NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease). Just wondering if there's was anyway I could've avoided these!?
 
joner847 said:
Don't get me started on the Type 2 Stigma, I still get a lecture about healthy this and healthy that from my father every time I see him and then half hour later...."do you want a chocolate biscuit?"!

I've been Type 2 for two and a bit years, whilst my Doctor Surgery has been really good with helping me mange my diabetes, I still seem to've fallen down a couple of medical traps! I've been taking Statins for a number of years (prior to my Diabetes diagnosis) for High Cholesterol; but in the last 6 months I can now add to my pile of conditions, Hypertension and last Sunday, NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease). Just wondering if there's was anyway I could've avoided these!?
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I am wondering the same, please try to be kind to yourself as there’s more genetic factors being discovered all the time, thinking of you x
 
Sarahp said:
I am wondering the same, please try to be kind to yourself as there’s more genetic factors being discovered all the time, thinking of you x
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There’s so much to diabetes than people ever understand. Remember, diabetes isn’t a body type. It isn’t a lifestyle or a result of a poor lifestyle. You’re right that there’s often a lot more genetic factors that people are only just finding out about.

I’m just thankful to have found this forum as it has helped to have other people who have been through this and understand how isolating and scary this can all be.
 
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