Ignorance amongst GP's

M

Mulligan

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I have Type 1 and I live in an area where the local CGC deprived diabetic people in the area of the opportunity of getting Freestyle Libre sensors on prescription. I find them extremely beneficial. My Hba1c has come down significantly since I have been using them. The drawback, of course is the cost, around £96 every 4 weeks so I was delighted to hear the announcement that they would be available on prescription everywhere from April. I had to see my GP today so I took the opportunity to raise the issue with a view to finding out if I would eligible to receive the sensors on prescription. You can imagine my surprise when my GP admitted that she was unaware of this issue. Worse still she had never even heard of the product. She asked me all about it and I showed her how it worked. Has anyone else come across this extraordinary lack of knowledge. I appreciate the fact that my GP is not a specialist but, given the importance of this issue and the publicity it has received I would have thought she might have had a vague idea what was going on.
 
Mulligan said:
I have Type 1 and I live in an area where the local CGC deprived diabetic people in the area of the opportunity of getting Freestyle Libre sensors on prescription. I find them extremely beneficial. My Hba1c has come down significantly since I have been using them. The drawback, of course is the cost, around £96 every 4 weeks so I was delighted to hear the announcement that they would be available on prescription everywhere from April. I had to see my GP today so I took the opportunity to raise the issue with a view to finding out if I would eligible to receive the sensors on prescription. You can imagine my surprise when my GP admitted that she was unaware of this issue. Worse still she had never even heard of the product. She asked me all about it and I showed her how it worked. Has anyone else come across this extraordinary lack of knowledge. I appreciate the fact that my GP is not a specialist but, given the importance of this issue and the publicity it has received I would have thought she might have had a vague idea what was going on.
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One would hope that GPs would have heard of them by now (mine had) especially as Teresa May's is very visible on her arm. Maybe your GP thinks that’s where she plugs herself in to recharge every night.
However, before we all get too excited, the new rules about the Libre beng on prescription say it will be available 'to approximately 20% of Type 1s!'
 
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I appreciate your point about availability which is why I raised the issue with my GP. At least she was prepared to admit her lack of knowledge and said she would find out and get back to me.
 
My GP doesn’t even know which blood tests to do for Type 1 :eek:
 
My GP probably didn't know enough.

But she referred me to anyone and everyone that did.

So, what more could she do?
Totally aced it for me.
 
Two GPs at my practice hadn’t heard of them . One was amazed when I demonstrated all the info it gives and annoyed that most of us had to self fund them.

Imo 20% of peoplewith T1 getting them prescribed is a start.

Somewhere on the forum there is the full criteria for getting them prescribed, I will have a look round and post a link here if I find them
 
Most medical employees I come across have never heard of Type 3c diabetes.
Plus I have appointments or have had at every hospital in Liverpool. ( before you witty bunch get going Apart from the Liverpool’s women’s hospital )
 
As an average GP might not see a T1 from one years end to the next, you can hardly expect them to be au fait with every bit of diabetes news. And the news about the Libre change was hardly broadcast to the nation.
 
When I first went on to a pump I was told quite firmly by the practice nurse she didn't want anything to do with them there new fangled things. That was 11 years ago and I think they might have just worked out what a carb is :rolleyes:
 
Hepato-pancreato said:
Most medical employees I come across have never heard of Type 3c diabetes.
Plus I have appointments or have had at every hospital in Liverpool. ( before you witty bunch get going Apart from the Liverpool’s women’s hospital )
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I enjoy winding medics up with being a type 3.

Old beef coming up...

It would help if Diabetes UK acknowledged our existence - we may be rare but we have diabetes too.
 
Yes, in Balance magazine they always describe contributor Arthur Smith as a type 2 when he is clearly a 3c after destroying his pancreas with booze.

Type 3c is commoner than T1, but you wouldn’t know that reading Balance magazine.
 
Funnily enough I was thinking of writing to Balance magazine requesting an article/ and or acknowledgment about type 3c, it has never been mentioned in the few years I have subscribed. The last GP I saw for an diabetes unrelated appointment asked what type of diabetic I was, when I replied type 3c, she said “ remind me what that is.” :eek:
 
@eggyg - that's got to be better than thinking you've made a mistake - and she knows now so that's a step forward although bloomin tedious.
 
trophywench said:
@eggyg - that's got to be better than thinking you've made a mistake - and she knows now so that's a step forward although bloomin tedious.
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And also checks the patient has some understanding of their condition.
 
My GP acknowledges his lack of knowledge about T1, and as others have said, makes sure that I have the access to specialist help that I need regarding my pump.

The GP did ask me to do a session during one of their training days on managing T1 with a pump, as it seemed useful for them to be aware of what was involved. Some interesting discussions. I just use the Practice for my blood tests, foot check and find that the nurse is keen to hear about the Libre and discuss it’s positive impact on my management.
 
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