Hello!

[CommiePinkoQueer]

I'm Kit, just been diagnosed. Think it's type 2 but honestly the first appointment was a bit rushed. Got a second appointment tomorrow so will be asking a lot of questions. Wish me luck!

 

[MrPixels]

good luck...

 

[Sophie DUK]

Hi @CommiePinkoQueerEnby, welcome to the forum 🙂 it's great to meet you! Good luck with your appointment.

If you feel comfortable doing so, let us know how it goes. Do you have any questions before you go?

 

[CommiePinkoQueer]

Will do!

Thanks, I'll see how it goes and maybe rely on you guys if it doesn't go so well.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Let us know how you get on tomorrow @CommiePinkoQueerEnby

Have you been given the result of your HbA1c? That can help you to understand where you are in the range of available possibilities, and how significant the changes you may need to be considering.

If you are interested in building up your background knowledge of T2 diabetes you might want to register for the Learning Zone

Landing Page | Diabetes UK Learning Zone

learningzone.diabetes.org.uk

Alternatively you might like these more personal accounts of people getting to grips with their own diabetes - Maggie Davey’s Letter to the Newly Diagnosed and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year

Good luck, and keep us posted 🙂

 

[CommiePinkoQueer]

Let us know how you get on tomorrow @CommiePinkoQueerEnby

Have you been given the result of your HbA1c? That can help you to understand where you are in the range of available possibilities, and how significant the changes you may need to be considering.

If you are interested in building up your background knowledge of T2 diabetes you might want to register for the Learning Zone

Landing Page | Diabetes UK Learning Zone

learningzone.diabetes.org.uk

Alternatively you might like these more personal accounts of people getting to grips with their own diabetes - Maggie Davey’s Letter to the Newly Diagnosed and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year

Good luck, and keep us posted 🙂

Will do!

I wasn't, no. That's something I'll ask about tomorrow.

Thanks, that was one of the first things I did, haha.

Ooh, I'll definitely check those out, thanks so much.

Thank you!

 

[CommiePinkoQueer]

Okay, so I just had my next appointment and it...wasn't great. The nurse wouldn't tell me my HbA1c, and when I asked about a bloody glucose monitor - I'm on gliclazide, two tablets twice a day, and I think I've had hypos, but if course can't tell without one - and she said only T1 people get them? I read differently, but I didn't want to argue with her. Maybe I was wrong, I don't know. I'm looking into buying one from DiabetesUK, but it's a little confusing what you need to get.

I was going to ask about a flu jab but she rushed me out - I was in for five minutes total. I'm to see her again next week. I get that the NHS is under pressure but it felt like she didn't think any of this was a big deal, and I was wasting her time. She also forgot I was to give her a urine sample, and forgot what medication I was on and how much I was to take. I don't expect her to remember, but I thought she'd written it in her notes!

I don't know what to do, if anything. Does anyone have any advice? I have severe anxiety so I find it very difficult to push back. I can't help but feel a little hopeless right now. Sorry if this is a little jumbled.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Maybe I was wrong, I don't know.

You're right, Gliclazide can cause hypos, and of course the nurse should know that (and certainly should know that it's possible for people with Type 2 to have hypos, if they're taking some kinds of medication): https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/gliclazide/about-gliclazide/

I think because of that you really ought to be offered glucose testing. (It's required if you drive.)

 

[CommiePinkoQueer]

Thanks, that's what I thought! I'll try and speak up next week.

 

[Leadinglights]

You have a right to know what your HbA1C is as it gives you an indication of where your starting point is and how much work you need to do. I would think it may be quite high if you have been prescribed gliclazide at the outset, it encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin hence the risk of low blood glucose and why you should have been prescribed a monitor and strips.
Although many Type 2 follow a low carb regime with that medication you have to be a bit careful about going too low on carbs but it is difficult to find out exactly how low is too low and I would have suggested asking your nurse but it sounds as if she is not particularly clued up.

 

[EmmaL76]

Wouldn’t tell you your hba1c ? That’s ridiculous. Can you view results online? I know you have different systems in Scotland but I can see all of mine through systems online once the doctor has approved access

 

[CommiePinkoQueer]

You have a right to know what your HbA1C is as it gives you an indication of where your starting point is and how much work you need to do. I would think it may be quite high if you have been prescribed gliclazide at the outset, it encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin hence the risk of low blood glucose and why you should have been prescribed a monitor and strips.
Although many Type 2 follow a low carb regime with that medication you have to be a bit careful about going too low on carbs but it is difficult to find out exactly how low is too low and I would have suggested asking your nurse but it sounds as if she is not particularly clued up.

Thanks!

 

[CommiePinkoQueer]

Wouldn’t tell you your hba1c ? That’s ridiculous. Can you view results online? I know you have different systems in Scotland but I can see all of mine through systems online once the doctor has approved access

Unfortunately I haven't been given access to anything, I've only seen the nurse twice. She hasn't given me anything except prescriptions.

 

[Sharron1]

Unfortunately I haven't been given access to anything, I've only seen the nurse twice. She hasn't given me anything except prescriptions.

Wouldn't give you YOUR Hba1c result? Unbelievable but may be not. I would keep on asking otherwise how on earth would you know where you are on the Diabetes spectrum?

 

[EmmaL76]

Unfortunately I haven't been given access to anything, I've only seen the nurse twice. She hasn't given me anything except prescriptions.

Agree with @Sharron1 also, if your hba1c is really high you need to be a little more careful not to bring it down too quickly because that could make you feel quite unwell. so useful to know

 

[CommiePinkoQueer]

Wouldn't give you YOUR Hba1c result? Unbelievable but may be not. I would keep on asking otherwise how on earth would you know where you are on the Diabetes spectrum?

I will, thanks!

 

[CommiePinkoQueer]

Agree with @Sharron1 also, if your hba1c is really high you need to be a little more careful not to bring it down too quickly because that could make you feel quite unwell. so useful to know

Thanks, I'll keep pushing!

 

[42istheanswer]

Hi @CommiePinkoQueerEnby I love your dragon pfp!

I agree that not giving you your information is not acceptable. If it would help, you could write down the questions you want to ask on a physical piece of paper and then give that to the nurse at your next appointment if you find you are struggling to verbalise them.

You are definitely now entitled to a flu jab, and also to an autumn covid booster if you would like one of those as well. My nurse was happy to do my flu jab at a general appointment (I had already had the covid booster at work) but if yours isn't then she should at least tell you how to book onto the clinic. I'm surprised you only got 5 minutes too, usually practice nurse appointments are longer than GP appointments so either 10 or 20 minutes.

If you still aren't getting anywhere with getting your questions answered on the next visit, then you could always write to the practice manager and complain, or look into who supports complaints independently (might be a PALS team with the health board for GP surgeries in Scotland? I'm not sure as I'm in England).

 

[CommiePinkoQueer]

Hi @CommiePinkoQueerEnby I love your dragon pfp!

I agree that not giving you your information is not acceptable. If it would help, you could write down the questions you want to ask on a physical piece of paper and then give that to the nurse at your next appointment if you find you are struggling to verbalise them.

You are definitely now entitled to a flu jab, and also to an autumn covid booster if you would like one of those as well. My nurse was happy to do my flu jab at a general appointment (I had already had the covid booster at work) but if yours isn't then she should at least tell you how to book onto the clinic. I'm surprised you only got 5 minutes too, usually practice nurse appointments are longer than GP appointments so either 10 or 20 minutes.

If you still aren't getting anywhere with getting your questions answered on the next visit, then you could always write to the practice manager and complain, or look into who supports complaints independently (might be a PALS team with the health board for GP surgeries in Scotland? I'm not sure as I'm in England).

Thanks! I love your name.

I'll try that, see if it helps.

I'll definitely ask next week about both. She said last week that she doesn't usually see patients on a Friday but was making an exception for me because I couldn't do Wednesdays, so I don't know if she had other stuff she wanted to do or what.

I hope it doesn't get that far as I think she'll know it's me. I just need to gain more confidence! But I'll look into that if it doesn't get better.

Thanks!

 

[Wannie]

Hi @CommiePinkoQueerEnby sorry to read that you haven't been given the help and support that you need, is there a trusted friend or family member that could attend the appointment with you, and push for the answers to your questions?
If not try as @42istheanswer and write your questions on a piece of paper, hope you get the answers you require