I feel so alone.

[Shay93]

I know I'm not alone with diabetes.

I just feel I have 0 support.

I get very down about my diabetes. I moved across the uk for a job two years ago and since then, I haven't had a HbA1c or any other check up for that matter apart from my eyes. The eye test which I had a few months back flagged background retinopathy.

I've asked my gp why I haven't received these check ups and I just get asked that the hospital I'm at deals with it. I've never had a hospital appointment since being here and the one they say I'm at for my check ups isn't the same one I had my eye test at.

I feel like I have lost control and I'm not sure what to do because I'm not getting the answers I need from professionals.

I really don't want diabetes to take control of my life but at the moment I'm not sure what road I'm on with getting it sorted.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Shay, really sorry to hear this, and it most certainly should not be happening! Have a look at the Diabetes UK 15 healthcare essentials - the care you should expect, and see which ones apply to you, that you are not currently getting. Also, I would suggest contacting the Diabetes UK Helpline service - they will be able to give you some advice about how you can ensure that you get the care you need and are entitled to.

Good luck, and do please let us know how you get on - I would feel the same as you.

 

[mum2westiesGill]

Hi @Shay93,
I to am very sorry to hear this. As @Northerner advised please do get in touch with the Diabetes UK helpline & get all of the support you are entitled to.

Good luck & don't be afraid to come back to us on here & let us know how you are going on ~ there is always someone around on here to help you 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

You should also contact the diabetes service at the hospital your GP says they have referred you to, to make sure you are actually on their list. This may well be different from the eye-screening service as a few years back eye-screening and routine appointments were separated out.

As others are saying you should be getting an annual review at the very least. Seems like you are just not being contacted by the hospital appointments system.

I know that my letters always come with warnings that if I don't arrange or keep the appointment they are inviting me to arrange I will be taken off their list and returned to GP care, so perhaps there was just mis-communication at the very start and you;ve fallen through the cracks in the system.

Not good enough though, and it sounds like you feel you need extra support.

Hopefully with a bit more input you can reverse that background retinopathy. I know several members here who have gone back to 'all clear' by improving their BG management.

 

[Greymouser]

You should also contact the diabetes service at the hospital your GP says they have referred you to, to make sure you are actually on their list. This may well be different from the eye-screening service as a few years back eye-screening and routine appointments were separated out.

Still happening now Mike, my eye scan was completely separate from the hospital referral. Background retinopathy is a scary letter read too. I have had that one and am trying to not worry about it. Easier said than do though.

You are not alone though Shay93, there are hundreds on this forum here to help. 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Still happening now Mike, my eye scan was completely separate from the hospital referral. Background retinopathy is a scary letter read too. I have had that one and am trying to not worry about it. Easier said than do though.

You are not alone though Shay93, there are hundreds on this forum here to help. 🙂

Yes our eye screening is a mobile service that comes around the GP surgeries. It's been a while since my eye screening was anything to do with my actual diabetes clinic.

Completely agree with you about the wording in the 'background changes' letter. Absoutely terrifying! Have had a couple over the years, but my most recent scans have all been 'all clear' thankfully.

 

[pav]

A friend is in a similar position, not had some reviews for 3 years, even changing docs has not helped him, and just seems to have been lost in the system. My eye checks are done at the hospital close to me, while my foot check up is done by the hospital team who come out to local GP practices. My day to day diabetic care is very haphazard at the moment and I have lost track of where I am with it. Still in the process of finding out who does what and where as the hospital team don't want to know, care deteriorated to not a lot at my old GP practice and my new one still finding things out.

 

[HOBIE]

Hi Shay 93 & welcome. I would be knocking on some doors if I where you. Good luck 🙂

 

[Shay93]

Thank you so much to everyone who has responded.

I've managed to get an appointment for my bloods next week. I'm not giving in and will continue to pester them until I get the care I need.

 

[Ditto]

((((hugs)))) Make demands! We can be too unassuming and it can backfire. Make a fuss and get yourself heard at your surgery.

 

[HOBIE]

We are here to try & help if we can so pls ask if it helps you 🙂

 

[Shay93]

Hi Everyone,

Bloods taken this morning and they have booked me an appointment with the diabetic nurse next week.

The nurse doing the bloods was shocked at how I’ve been treated so made sure I was booked in to see someone and to get my results

 

[Northerner]

Hi Everyone,

Bloods taken this morning and they have booked me an appointment with the diabetic nurse next week.

The nurse doing the bloods was shocked at how I’ve been treated so made sure I was booked in to see someone and to get my results

Good to hear Shay! 🙂 I hope that the appointment goes well, with a good, positive plan for the future 🙂