Diabetic moved to Wales

[Ccolman607]

Hello

I have been a type 2 since 2004 and all had been well. My bs were reasonable but maybe not as low as I would have liked them to be. I had an excellent GP in Herefordshire and felt supported.

In March 2017 I moved to Wales and promptly registered with a GP and it has been disastrous! I won't go into all the detail, but the stress of moving and problems with Metformin (again) meant I needed to see a GP/diabetic nurse. I got an appt and had my bloods done and had the review. I was informed that the practice don't support diabetics who are on insulin, they need to be referred to the hospital and the nurse would arrange for this to happen. My hba1c had increased. I waited for a few weeks and had a problem getting my meds so called in to the surgery to be told I needed a medication review with a GP that would be done over the phone. Another week passed and I eventually got my review. I asked about my referral to the hospital as my bs were rising slowly to be told that it hadn't happened and he would do it today.

A few weeks on, I started to have a few symptoms of increased bs so telephoned the surgery to try and book an appt and check how long I should be expected to wait to be notified of an appointment at the hospital and was told by the receptionist it could take 6m. I telephoned towards the end of July and got a GP appt for 1/9/17.

I struggled on, but this weekend I got another bought of oral thrush so spoke with a pharmacist who advised me to see a GP/diabetic nurse asap. I bought some medication to treat the oral thrush and rang today to get an emergency on the day appt with a GP.

I have just come back and I am gobsmacked to be told by the GP that they won't manage my diabetes because I am on insulin. They won't change/or give me any medication to help bring my bs down. I discussed the advise I had been given by my previous GP and that I was following that but when I tested this morning they were 18 and they had been 20 on Saturday. All I was offered was that they will chase the hospital as I should have been seen by now and some treatment for my oral thrush. A sticking plaster over the underlying cause.

I feel saddened and disappointed with this and wonder if this is what Wales is like?
Any ideas how to address this? Seems like I have been left alone to manage this.

Thanks in anticipation for any advice/info.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.
You may want ring the Diabetes UK helpline.

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum Ccolman607. Sorry to hear about your problems getting medical attention.
What advice were you given by your previous GP? Anything about adjusting insulin doses? Changing diet - particularly limiting carbohydrate content? Increasing exercise levels? Have you ever been offered / attended an diabetes education course?

 

[Northerner]

Welcome.
You may want ring the Diabetes UK helpline.

I'd agree, tell them what you have just told us and they may be able to advise how you can ensure you get the care you need, and are entitled to expect wherever in the UK you are. Information here:

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/helpline

Terrible treatment!

 

[Wirrallass]

Hi Colman607 and a warm welcome to our supportive forum - its not surprising you feel disappointed and let down & I'm sorry to read you have been treated so miserably & shoddedly. I echo the advice given above but I would suggest that as your bgls are remaining high that you take yourself off to A&E ASAP. You will be treated there until your bgls are lowered sufficiently that they are in range. Take care, good luck & please keep us updated. x

 

[Abi]

I'm sorry you are having a difficult time and I would be rather annoyed that the referral only took place after you reminded the GP
On the other hand- some surgeries offer outstanding diabetes support with knowledgable and well trained staff- but would you want someone who perhaps does not have such expertise or is inexperienced overseeing a change to insulin?
In this scenario better to be referred to a clinic in secondary care where the staff are likely to be more familiar with all insulins/ regimens

 

[Derek Stubbs]

don't know if this will work , but if it was me, I would call my old gp & ask them to help, maybe they could write a letter to the new GP which might help
them understand your specific needs. It's pretty c**p as you would think GP's across the UK should be working to the same guidelines.

 

[Wirrallass]

Hi Cocolnan607 - just wondering how you are and whether you have made any progress since you last posted here. Did you go to the A&E department? I echo @Derek Stubbs's suggestion to contact your previous GP. - maybe s/he could intervene by writing/ringing your new GP to get the ball rolling for you to be given a very early/instant hospital referral. IMO with your bgls as they are, you do need medical attention ASAP. Remember you are not alone as you have our collective support. Looking forward to hearing from you with an update. Take care x

 

[Ccolman607]

Hi Cocolnan607 - just wondering how you are and whether you have made any progress since you last posted here. Did you go to the A&E department? I echo @Derek Stubbs's suggestion to contact your previous GP. - maybe s/he could intervene by writing/ringing your new GP to get the ball rolling for you to be given a very early/instant hospital referral. IMO with your bgls as they are, you do need medical attention ASAP. Remember you are not alone as you have our collective support. Looking forward to hearing from you with an update. Take care x

Hello All
Well, I know I wrote to you in August and at the time I was feeling very unwell and despondent and low (which is very unlike me!). I am pleased to report that I got to see a diabetic consultant at the hospital who discovered that my thyroid levels were low which can upset your BG's. I was put on Trulicity and Levothyroxine and I am now back to 'normal'. I am now avoiding my GP's where my diabetes is concerned and sticking with the hospital!

Thanks everyone 🙂
Colette

 

[Wirrallass]

Hello All
Well, I know I wrote to you in August and at the time I was feeling very unwell and despondent and low (which is very unlike me!). I am pleased to report that I got to see a diabetic consultant at the hospital who discovered that my thyroid levels were low which can upset your BG's. I was put on Trulicity and Levothyroxine and I am now back to 'normal'. I am now avoiding my GP's where my diabetes is concerned and sticking with the hospital!

Thanks everyone 🙂
Colette

That's great news Coolman ~ really pleased that you finally saw a Professional who diagnosed the problem & prescribed the appropriate medication. Don't blame you for wanting to continue having your reviews at the hospital ~ nothing better than being seen by an expert in the field of diabetes. Take care and do stay in touch.

 

[miguel81]

I lived and worked in Wales in the NHS - Newport - before I moved to Spain. I am profoundly upset that you have experienced such a cavalier attitude from your GP with regards to your diabetes. My hospital - The Royal Gwent - had a brilliant team of diabetic nurses, the lead got an MBE and my consultant got an OBE for their services to diabetics. The actor Anthony Hopkins' mother was diabetic and lived locally and he funded a new Diabetic Centre. I find it totally incomprehensible that any GP can just dismiss a patients needs because they are on insulin! I wish you all the very best for your continued care.

 

[silentsquirrel]

I lived and worked in Wales in the NHS - Newport - before I moved to Spain. I am profoundly upset that you have experienced such a cavalier attitude from your GP with regards to your diabetes. My hospital - The Royal Gwent - had a brilliant team of diabetic nurses, the lead got an MBE and my consultant got an OBE for their services to diabetics. The actor Anthony Hopkins' mother was diabetic and lived locally and he funded a new Diabetic Centre. I find it totally incomprehensible that any GP can just dismiss a patients needs because they are on insulin! I wish you all the very best for your continued care.

Funny how we can have such different perspectives of the same place! Maybe the RGH was brilliant for T1s, but as a T2 on insulin I found it anything but! Saw someone different every time, left on mixed insulin which did not work well for me, appointment systems hopeless .......
I found my treatment once I moved away from Newport , and based at my GP's, so much better.

 

[Beck S]

Ccolman, so glad you've managed to get better treatment at your local Unit - some GPs can be disastrous. I live in Wales, and have been lucky enough to get great care, both at my GPs and my local hospital, who are my lead care providers. I do have an appointment this afternoon with the new GP at the practice who has apparently taken over from my old GP who looked after Diabetic patients, so we shall see how that pans out. Hope it all goes well for you in the future!