• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Jan 2nd/3rd. My First "Review".

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Vince_UK said:
They can handle the results the same way they handled the diagnosis for me and that was by sending me a bland letter stating "Please contact the surgery on a non urgent basis regarding the results of you last blood test".
NON URGENT??????
Diabetes requires urgent intervention in my humble opinion not asinine, glib notes.
Click to expand...
Vince I have to say that when I was diagnosed I had blood taken on Friday morning and the GP rang me Friday evening to say that a prescription for Metformin had been faxed to my local Boots for me to collect on Saturday. He had also made an appointment for me to see him on the Tuesday afternoon. I have to say I almost $h1t myself.

By "non urgent" I would read that you are not at death's door and I would be pleased.
 
Well, let’s cut a long story short.
20 minute appointemt turned into a 37 minute one.
Saw a different nurse this time.
Went through my concerns clearly and specifically and she was not very happy at all with the way I had been treated by her colleague but stopped short, understandably, of an outright apology but made immediate significant efforts to correct the situation.
She did admit that diabetes is not fully understood by many of the nurses and even the doctors at the practice which is unsatisfactory for patients in her opinion.
Made an appointment for me on the 8th first available one, to see the practice diabetic specialist, which should have been done immediately after diagnosis she said. I explained I was travelling when I was diagnosed and her reply was that I still should have been referred for support even when travelling. Refreshing comment.
She told me that my HbA1c in September was 78, which is high, and in the diabetic range, I accepted that. She also stated that she would expect it to be much lower after my lifestyle and diet adjustments.
Took another blood and urine sample and results will be available for discussion on the 8th.
Blood pressure twice, first one a little high, which is not surprising lol and second one was fine.
Foot check, close eyes and tickle, all good. Pulse in feet checked also good.
Diet and results looked at and impressed with my weight loss and improvements especially as the support I have had has been from this forum, I clearly explained that, and not from any health professional.
Metformin continue taking the single does until I see the specialist on the 8th
Completed a full record for me, which again had not been done.
Check my eye records online and again was happy just continue with that.
All in a not a bad meeting and she fully understood my frustration and will
A) address that with her colleague and
B) discuss the total lack of guidance afforeded me with the diabetes specialist.
So let’s see what revelations the meeting on the 8th brings.
I cannot ask for more than that.
Vince is relaxed now lol
 
Sounds like you had a good appointment Vince. Will be interesting to see what the results will be on the 8th.
 
Vince_UK said:
Well, let’s cut a long story short.
20 minute appointemt turned into a 37 minute one.
Saw a different nurse this time.
Went through my concerns clearly and specifically and she was not very happy at all with the way I had been treated by her colleague but stopped short, understandably, of an outright apology but made immediate significant efforts to correct the situation.
She did admit that diabetes is not fully understood by many of the nurses and even the doctors at the practice which is unsatisfactory for patients in her opinion.
Made an appointment for me on the 8th first available one, to see the practice diabetic specialist, which should have been done immediately after diagnosis she said. I explained I was travelling when I was diagnosed and her reply was that I still should have been referred for support even when travelling. Refreshing comment.
She told me that my HbA1c in September was 78, which is high, and in the diabetic range, I accepted that. She also stated that she would expect it to be much lower after my lifestyle and diet adjustments.
Took another blood and urine sample and results will be available for discussion on the 8th.
Blood pressure twice, first one a little high, which is not surprising lol and second one was fine.
Foot check, close eyes and tickle, all good. Pulse in feet checked also good.
Diet and results looked at and impressed with my weight loss and improvements especially as the support I have had has been from this forum, I clearly explained that, and not from any health professional.
Metformin continue taking the single does until I see the specialist on the 8th
Completed a full record for me, which again had not been done.
Check my eye records online and again was happy just continue with that.
All in a not a bad meeting and she fully understood my frustration and will
A) address that with her colleague and
B) discuss the total lack of guidance afforeded me with the diabetes specialist.
So let’s see what revelations the meeting on the 8th brings.
I cannot ask for more than that.
Vince is relaxed now lol
Click to expand...
Fantastic result Vince
 
Vince , that Sounds pretty good to me.
If I were you I’d remember her name and ask for her in future re diabets reviews etc.
 
Yes folks I think I hav e achieved at least part of my objectives.
Ljc said:
Vince , that Sounds pretty good to me.
If I were you I’d remember her name and ask for her in future re diabets reviews etc.
Click to expand...
Name easy to remember Lin 🙂
My surname is Smith and her name is Doreen Smith haha
So it is stuck in my brain now
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ljc
Sounds like it was a good appointment, Vince. Great news.
 
Mark Parrott said:
Sounds like it was a good appointment, Vince. Great news.
Click to expand...
Thanks Mark, I felt it was and am more relaxed and confident now that I will achieve my goals 🙂
 
Vince_UK said:
Thanks Mark, I felt it was and am more relaxed and confident now that I will achieve my goals 🙂
Click to expand...

I think once you get your (brilliant) Hba1c result back the medics will be astounded Vince. Like you, I received very little advice or support from my surgery even though I was in bits (3 life threatening conditions in 18 months does that) and my GP actually carried on fixing his printer whilst I cried like an idiot.
I at least got a meter (with no instructions) because he’d got it off a rep and was sent away to learn. And thanks to this wonderful lot, I learned and learned and I tested and tested. My GP has never mentioned diabetes again to me even when I had a supposed annual health review with him. He just winked about my Hb result which was 40. The only nurse I spoke to in the following year told me ‘I was taking it too seriously!’ I actually laughed at her which confused her more.

However, your original Hb was pretty high (mine was 52) and I’m shocked they just despatched you at that point with little support.

We’ve both learned the hard way and the right way because in honesty I think many doctors just take a fatalistic view of type 2 diabetes and expect to deal with the consequences.

Glad it went well 🙂
 
Really glad it went well Vince and hopefully you will get the service and consideration all T2 should get in the future. Just a shame it was so poor in the first place.
It isn't always any better for T1s - I had a blood test, which I later found out showed an HbA1c of 123! I also just received a letter saying could I go and have another blood test asap and then make an apt to see the doc. Second test came back at 122😱. I had no idea what was going on, other than doc saying it looked like I had T1 diabetes. It then took over 3 months for the hospital consultant apt to come through. I had been given no meter or advice so was blindly carrying on as normal. Consultant was furious when I told him🙂. Supposed to see him every 3 mths but the last time was Sept 2016 as he is the only diabetes consultant in the area and is snowed under. Next HbA1c is due in April and I will be chasing for an apt after that as the TB drugs are playing havoc with my reading, and I am currently receiving no support from anywhere except this forum. Thank God this place exists.
 
@Amigo @Greyhound Gal
The world of diabetes would be a much darker and difficut place without this Forum.
In my limited experience Diabetes is not taken seriously enough by either some the medical profession or by the public at large. The attitude seems to be one of matter of fact.
To refer anyone to this website at the point of diagnosis in nothing short of an abdication of responsibility by some in the clinical world.
To send anyone away who has to remotest possibility of being or developing T1 or T2 without detailed advice as many of us have had to deal with, is nothing less than medical negligence.
People who have had their condition handled in such a way have an absolute perfect right to be angry and should vent that anger from the highest rooftops.
I am not done with this situation yet and after next week I will be approaching my medical council and NHS and asking for a full explanation as to why.
 
Last edited:
On thing the nurse did tell me is that many diabetes patients do not take their condition seriously in term of diet, exercise, lifestyle etc. My ex-wife being a prime example of this I recall who is pushing chocolates, mash etc down her throat every day and will not listen and poo-hoo's any advice, then again she always did.🙄
This apathy in patients set me pondering if in turn that breeds the apparent fatalstic approach I and others have encountered within the medical realm sometimes.
 
Vince_UK said:
On thing the nurse did tell me is that many diabetes patients do not take their condition seriously in term of diet, exercise, lifestyle etc. My ex-wife being a prime example of this I recall who is pushing chocolates, mash etc down her throat every day and will not listen and poo-hoo's any advice, then again she always did.🙄
This apathy in patients set me pondering if in turn that breeds the apparent fatalstic approach I and others have encountered within the medical realm sometimes.
Click to expand...

It’s chicken and egg though Vince. If the doc sends you away with no information, no means of testing and accepts high Hba1c levels as ‘ok’, it’s obvious that many will simply take the doctor’s lead and assume it’s no big deal. My GP said he’d be happy if I could stay at 52! I sure as hell wasnt! 🙄
I’ve lost many friends with diabetic complications and see many more on the same course but they barely associate food with diabetic complications. Somebody told me recently she had ‘a bit of sugar!’
 
There are people who will bury their head in the sand & carry on as normal. There will also be people who take their doctor's advice & still get worse & worse because it is the wrong or insufficient advice, then the doctor has a go at them for not complying even though they are.
 
Glad it went well Vince.
Look forward to hearing how it goes on 8th.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top