Hi i'm new here

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bea

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi i'm Bea

I was diagnosed about 2 months ago with type 2 diabetes, and i'm lost. I haven't been given any real advice just take the tablets and come back in 3 months. I take metformin 3 times a day. I asked if i needed to check my bloods and was told no, do i need to change my diet again no, I was told dont change anything until I go back in September, it just doesnt seem right. How can you manage your condititon if theres no monitoring or support, or am i just panicing and over-reacting. Please advise.
 
Hi Bea and welcome to the forum, it does sound very familier and unfortunetly it happens very often when people join this forum,I was given a handful of leaflets and left to get on with it with metformin twice a day.Many type 2s are told not to test and it tends to be down to funding etc,but all the evidence i have seen shows that testing is the best way to control your diabetes, it is the only way you can see what foods cause you to go hi and low,some fight to get strips and a meter others find it easier but expensive in buying there own.Regarding being told not to change your diet that sound utterley stupid i think just use common sense and have a look around here and you will soon get answers.

p.s I also think you would benifit from a book called the first year-type 2 diabetes here is the link for it http://www.amazon.co.uk/Type-Diabet...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279103738&sr=8-1
 
That sounds familiar to the advice I was given, ie my level was too high (at 13) to be controlled simply by diet and exercise, so take metformin 3 times a day with food, come back in 3 months (i did, I've now got 3 more months...). the practice nurse basically gave me a print out of information from Diabetes UK website (which I'd already looked at anyway) and that was it.
Although my doctor wasn't in any way dismissive, it did seem like he was just doing the bare minimum he had to do. After going in to hospital for an unrelated matter, and having blood checked, I found out my levels were down to around 10 - after my 3 months re-test he just told me to carry on with medication, but didn't even say what my levels were (i say "he didn't", i was just told to ring the doctors reception for the blood test results....).
I reckon joining this forum is the best thing you could do with regards to real practical advice and information.
 
Hi Bea, welcome to the forum.
 
Hi Bea, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry you've been left in the lurch by your doctor, it really is not good enough - would they treat their own family like this? Thankfully, there is a wealth of experience and support here, so please ask away!

You might find the following give you a bit more of a grounding in what to expect:

Maggie Davey's letter to newly diagnosed Type 2s:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5836

and also Jennifer's good advice:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5835

Plus, a very useful book: Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker (amazon link)
 
Hi Bea, welcome to the forum 🙂 Hope you find it useful and you will find a lot of useful support on here that will help you out x
 
Hello & welcome bea same happened to me, was put on metformin given leaflets nothin was mentioned about testing so i bought my own meter and started testing, went back fer cholesterol test (4.5) and kidney (urine) function tests (normal) & expected practice nurse to give me the low down on diabetes and she tried handing me more leaflets (sigh) & was told to make another blood taking appointment for 2 months time (they can go whistle) they can chase me if they care lol :D
 
Welcome to the forum Bea.

I am really sorry that you've been left so much in the lurch. I was given infinitely more support to start with.

Try and get yourself on a Diabetes Xpert course run by the NHS. It runs for 6 weeks, one afternoon per week. I found it extremely useful in giving me a good grounding about diabetes and how to control it. It also gave me the opportunity to ask questions in a relaxed atmosphere. Your GP practice should have some info about it (or if not, you can prod them to find out for themselves!).

Andy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top