went to the hospital as falling over a lot...explained that the diabetes nurse doesnt want to see me for three months to the doc out there and cannot understand that since diagnosed in may have seen her twice and still havent had a referral for my feet which are covered in cuts on the bottom..she checked the computer and low and behold NO APPOINTMENT has been made for me since i was diagnosed....I HAVE PUT ON THREE STONE since taking METFORMIN tablets and no one seems worried....I now weigh 22 stone and cant get a meter and strips, cant get my feet checked, and cant get diet help....whats it all for.....!!!!...
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fed up
- Thread starter rossie
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Hi Rossi
Sorry to hear about your appointment troubles and difficulties with your feet. Really hope you get that sorted soon as it must be very frustrating.
Sorry to hear about the weight gain too. Tryicky for me to comment as a T1, but from reading other people's experiences, it would seem that this is not necessarily to do with taking Metformin, but rather that your digestive system has 'tipped over the edge' which meant that you went to get yourself checked, got diagnosed with T2 and issued with Metformin.
Because your metabolism is struggling you are likely to be producing quite a lot of insulin but not using it effectively to reduce your blood glucose levels. High BG levels in the presence of insulin leads to weight gain (insulin has a nifty 'store that for later' trick of converting excess BG to fat).
While you work on your GP to get a meter, what you need to bear in mind is that diabetes is *all* about carbohydrate. Not just sugar - anything carby. Bread/grains/potatoes/rice/pasta/fruit etc etc will all push your BG up. Many (most!) of them will do so almost as fast as table sugar even if they are 'brown' varieties. The best thing long-term will be to get hold of a BG meter so that you can test and see how much of what your body can tolerate (everyone is different and you might have some brilliant surprises) but until then the safest thing would be to avoid or significantly cut back on carbs.
This post might be interesting: http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2008/05/what-to-eat-until-you-get-your-meter.html
As might this: http://www.drbriffa.com/2012/03/05/...y-advice-diabetes-uk-dishes-out-to-diabetics/
And stick around and ask questions/rant here. Chances are someone will have been just where you are and might be able to offer their own experiences.
Sorry to hear about your appointment troubles and difficulties with your feet. Really hope you get that sorted soon as it must be very frustrating.
Sorry to hear about the weight gain too. Tryicky for me to comment as a T1, but from reading other people's experiences, it would seem that this is not necessarily to do with taking Metformin, but rather that your digestive system has 'tipped over the edge' which meant that you went to get yourself checked, got diagnosed with T2 and issued with Metformin.
Because your metabolism is struggling you are likely to be producing quite a lot of insulin but not using it effectively to reduce your blood glucose levels. High BG levels in the presence of insulin leads to weight gain (insulin has a nifty 'store that for later' trick of converting excess BG to fat).
While you work on your GP to get a meter, what you need to bear in mind is that diabetes is *all* about carbohydrate. Not just sugar - anything carby. Bread/grains/potatoes/rice/pasta/fruit etc etc will all push your BG up. Many (most!) of them will do so almost as fast as table sugar even if they are 'brown' varieties. The best thing long-term will be to get hold of a BG meter so that you can test and see how much of what your body can tolerate (everyone is different and you might have some brilliant surprises) but until then the safest thing would be to avoid or significantly cut back on carbs.
This post might be interesting: http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2008/05/what-to-eat-until-you-get-your-meter.html
As might this: http://www.drbriffa.com/2012/03/05/...y-advice-diabetes-uk-dishes-out-to-diabetics/
And stick around and ask questions/rant here. Chances are someone will have been just where you are and might be able to offer their own experiences.
I have been diagnosed 6 years and have been left pretty much to get on with it myself too. So far in 6 years I have seen the DSN once.
Keep pestering your doctor for a meter and for a referal to the podiatrist, although in some areas you can self refer.
It might pay you to also pester your doctor for some kind of patient education. I recently did a DESMOND course which for me had quite a lot of reminders in it but it is a learning aid for others.
Some people find it usefull to keep a food diary as it shows whatthy eat through the day. To cut down on carbs instead of having potatoes with your meal have an extra portion of vege or have an apple for afters instead of apple pie. The weight gain is very easy, especially if you are not very active. The advice to get more active is often given but something I don't find easy to take.
Although we need to cut down on sweets and cakes and biscuits and yummy puddings, they can still be eaten as treats or as part of a meal from time to time.
Good luck with every thing, come back and ask as many questions as you like and someone is sure to be able to help you.
Keep pestering your doctor for a meter and for a referal to the podiatrist, although in some areas you can self refer.
It might pay you to also pester your doctor for some kind of patient education. I recently did a DESMOND course which for me had quite a lot of reminders in it but it is a learning aid for others.
Some people find it usefull to keep a food diary as it shows whatthy eat through the day. To cut down on carbs instead of having potatoes with your meal have an extra portion of vege or have an apple for afters instead of apple pie. The weight gain is very easy, especially if you are not very active. The advice to get more active is often given but something I don't find easy to take.
Although we need to cut down on sweets and cakes and biscuits and yummy puddings, they can still be eaten as treats or as part of a meal from time to time.
Good luck with every thing, come back and ask as many questions as you like and someone is sure to be able to help you.
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