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Frustrated!

L

Lea123

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
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Just been told that the diabetic nurse who I should see in April doesn’t need me to have a blood test prior - thought a 3 month review was quite standard (especially with meds and weight loss)?
I was diagnosed in Dec 24 with 75 and have not been reviewed since.
A&E gave me some metformin to get me going on Christmas day till i get to see the diabetic nurse (which has been re scheduled once already) so no one has reviewed whether my medication is working or necessary - just keep giving repeats.
I have to buy my own test kit for finger pricks as the NHS hasn’t seen me to talk about getting one. (All the results are under 7) I handed in a medical exemption form 2 months ago only to find out yesterday it has been lost so now have to wait again! What on earth is wrong with this system? Do they realise not everyone wants to be chucked on a diabetes heap!
 
Lea123 said:
Just been told that the diabetic nurse who I should see in April doesn’t need me to have a blood test prior - thought a 3 month review was quite standard (especially with meds and weight loss)?
I was diagnosed in Dec 24 with 75 and have not been reviewed since.
A&E gave me some metformin to get me going on Christmas day till i get to see the diabetic nurse (which has been re scheduled once already) so no one has reviewed whether my medication is working or necessary - just keep giving repeats.
I have to buy my own test kit for finger pricks as the NHS hasn’t seen me to talk about getting one. (All the results are under 7) I handed in a medical exemption form 2 months ago only to find out yesterday it has been lost so now have to wait again! What on earth is wrong with this system? Do they realise not everyone wants to be chucked on a diabetes heap!
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You and many others self fund their monitor and strips if not on medication that could cause low blood glucose, those who do are lucky.
You would normally expect to have an HbA1C blood test after 3 months which would be the end of March. I would ring your surgery and say you have the appointment in April and can you have a blood test form or however your surgery organises it so the result will be available in time. If they say no then ask for a GP appointment.
 
Hi,

I would keep on asking for a 3 month blood test (April time), which is quite usual to see what is going on. Do you know why the nurse told you it isn't needed? She might have thought too soon after diagnosis.

Good luck.
 
Thank you for your reply - Ive no idea, i left a message at the reception yesterday (when i had to fill in my exemption certificate yet again) and they said they would ask and let me know what she says (which they have). My mission is to go into diabetes remission, Ive lost 1.5st since diagnosis, i have not had a reading over 7 2hrs after meal (usually 5-6) and i am really keen to control through diet alone. I do not want to be on medication. If only i could have my opportunity to discuss it! Maybe because no one has seen me yet she doesn’t think I should. But, having several diabetics around me personally (and having had gestational diabetes), i was lead to believe that was a pretty standard expectation. I must say that my initial meeting/appointment if i ever get it will be getting plenty of feedback from me.
 
It's odd. I wouldn't waste energy trying to second guess their reasons. All I can suggest is to be tenacious and don't give up. Continue with your food choices, as they, according to your blood glucose testing results appear to be ok

Once again, good luck
 
My diabetic nurse appointments have always consisted of taking bloods, weighing / measuring me and checking my feet. I've never had a blood test prior to meeting the nurse.
 
I usually get an annual text telling me it's blood test time. I organise that and then once I have my results, book my appointment for the telephone review with the nurse. It did take me a while to workout how to time everything
 
My diabetes nurse always does the blood test at the appointment and the results appear between 24 and 48 hours later in the NHS app for me to look at.
 
Ok @Lea123
I wanted an apt with my GP and the receptionist said there were no "General" apt with MY doctor for 3 months.

Now, me being me, thought I would write for an apt on their system and make it "NON GENERAL" and mentioned things like breathing, weight loss and mental health, guess what I got an apt within 2 weeks.

You just have to be a bit inventive when asking for an apt these days I'm afraid
 
Mine is the other way around. I am sent an appointment with the practice nurse or Health care assistant, who takes blood, weighs, checks BP and sometimes does pulses and toe tickle and then I get an appointment to see the nurse who looks after the practice diabetics and we review my results. This is however my annual diabetes review in the month of my birth. I get a second blood test about 6 months later which is just an HbA1c (not cholesterol etc) and a telephone review of that if necessary.

It would be usual to get a follow up HbA1c 3 months after initial diagnosis to see what if any progress has been made with diabetes management since diagnosis, but it sounds like essentially this is going to be your first sort of diagnostic appointment which may explain the reluctance to do another blood test because in their eyes you won't have any progress to assess, although it sounds like you are doing brilliantly, so have a gold star because those readings below 7 after meals suggest you are well on your way to remission.
There is the option of having a private HbA1c test if you genuinely want one before the appointment with the nurse, (I think they cost about £25) but the other option is to explain it all to the nurse when you see them, ask them to take a blood sample and hang fire on prescribing meds until you get the result and ask for a telephone appointment with them when the result comes back....Usually just a few days for HbA1c. Explain how hard you have worked on lifestyle changes and the finger prick results you are getting and that you are very committed to pushing it into remission if you are not already there. Hopefully, if they are good at their job they will listen and support you with this approach and be encouraging. Good luck, although it sounds like you have already done most of the hard graft with getting your BG levels under good management!
 
@Lea123
I saw the senior pharmacist at the practice in June as my blood test for blood pressure review showed my cholestral creeping. In the previous 10 years I'd only seen a nurse either stressed or busy and unwilling or unable to answer questions. I discovered they stopped checking for diabetes 10 years before so asked for a test. It was 69 and I was put off for second test month later when it was 64. I had an appt with a DCN 3 weeks later who didn't discuss treatment as the pharmacist hadn't written some notes.she phoned me and told me I was on metformin. 4 weeks later I had a blood test and hba1c and was 58. Metformin reduced and put on SGLT2. Two weeks later a statin was added. I was asked if id like another blood test and said yes although it was barely less than 4 weeks after last one. I was promised a phone call but ask reception for the result It was 51 but appeared caveated. Unexpectedly I had my first annual diabetes review in December less than 6 months after diagnosis. More bloods hba1c 44. The diabetes nurse was off sick but saw her last month. Im due to see her again in May because she dropped one of my drugs. I assume iwill have another hba1c but haven't booked an appointment yet as cannot book more than a month in advance. In our surgery you book a blood test with a nurse a few days before an appointment.
I would have thought they need an hba1c to check how changes you've made plus metformin have worked.
I'd ask the surgery repeatedly!
 
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