Managing type 2 diabetes and avoiding people due to socialphobia

[Skyfae]

Does anyone have any advice on how to cut down seeing various medical people as I'm finding that the hardest part apart from the Metformin not agreeing with my body, been rather more ill since taking those tablets then I was before I started, I didnt feel ill at all until then, and I'm much more concerned about my Social Anxiety flarring up badly due to keep having to have blood test and being spoken at by medical staff than I am about the Diabetes. As a series panic attack can cause a black out or even collapse for me, so far I'm just anxious and tearful and fed up of seeing so many people. I find new people being around me fear panic inducing and I dont know if there is any advice or sites I can read to get a good solution. I havent found the Diabetic Nurse at my doctors practice is any help at all as she seems to think my Social Anxiety is not important.

 

[Leadinglights]

Does anyone have any advice on how to cut down seeing various medical people as I'm finding that the hardest part apart from the Metformin not agreeing with my body, been rather more ill since taking those tablets then I was before I started, I didnt feel ill at all until then, and I'm much more concerned about my Social Anxiety flarring up badly due to keep having to have blood test and being spoken at by medical staff than I am about the Diabetes. As a series panic attack can cause a black out or even collapse for me, so far I'm just anxious and tearful and fed up of seeing so many people. I find new people being around me fear panic inducing and I dont know if there is any advice or sites I can read to get a good solution. I havent found the Diabetic Nurse at my doctors practice is any help at all as she seems to think my Social Anxiety is not important.

Welcome to the forum, many people feel they do not have enough appointments and are very much left to their own devices, often actually having to press for their annual check of blood tests, feet and eyes.
If the metformin is making you feel unwell then there are other options, slow release metformin being the first one but also taking it mid meal will often help, but don't forget diet can be just as effective but failing that other oral medication.
If your blood glucose levels are fairly stable then I would not expect that you would need blood tests more than once a year unless anything changes or you are having tests for other things.
Do you know what your last HbA1C result was as that will indicate your diabetes status. If blood glucose it high that can be increasing your stress and anxiety as high levels affects all the cells in your body including the brain.
Maybe a better dietary plan may help so have a look at this link to see if it gives you any ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[Ieva DUK]

Hi @Skyfae and welcome to the forum!

From what I understand, it has been quite recent that you've been diagnosed? Often health professionals will first look to get your 'body in order', as in take care of all the physical needs, get your medication, HbA1C levels sorted etc. In certain cases it's treated as an emergency (depending on what your levels were on diagnosis), and so everything else is pushed to the side.
The only sure way to see 'less' of the doctors is to get everything else under control - your medication, food, levels etc. Their ultimate goal is to ensure you're 'healthy' and informed, but I know how overwhelming all of the new information can get. Do you find your DN helpful for the issues relating specifically to your diabetes diagnosis?

 

[Skyfae]

Hi @Skyfae and welcome to the forum!

From what I understand, it has been quite recent that you've been diagnosed? Often health professionals will first look to get your 'body in order', as in take care of all the physical needs, get your medication, HbA1C levels sorted etc. In certain cases it's treated as an emergency (depending on what your levels were on diagnosis), and so everything else is pushed to the side.
The only sure way to see 'less' of the doctors is to get everything else under control - your medication, food, levels etc. Their ultimate goal is to ensure you're 'healthy' and informed, but I know how overwhelming all of the new information can get. Do you find your DN helpful for the issues relating specifically to your diabetes diagnosis?

No I don’t find speaking to any of them helpful and my doctors diabetic specialist is someone I don’t trust due to them saying previously in my hearing “I have no use for people like that!” When I was attending a doctors appointment about getting an update on a CBT referral, it takes me a long time to trust new people as it is without being made to feel worthless like that Doctor made me feel. I’ve worked for 40 years despite my severe socialphobia so I don’t understand what would make someone judge me as people like that. I basically don’t ever want to see either of the diabetic specialist at my Doctors ever again!

 

[Skyfae]

Welcome to the forum, many people feel they do not have enough appointments and are very much left to their own devices, often actually having to press for their annual check of blood tests, feet and eyes.
If the metformin is making you feel unwell then there are other options, slow release metformin being the first one but also taking it mid meal will often help, but don't forget diet can be just as effective but failing that other oral medication.
If your blood glucose levels are fairly stable then I would not expect that you would need blood tests more than once a year unless anything changes or you are having tests for other things.
Do you know what your last HbA1C result was as that will indicate your diabetes status. If blood glucose it high that can be increasing your stress and anxiety as high levels affects all the cells in your body including the brain.
Maybe a better dietary plan may help so have a look at this link to see if it gives you any ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

I’ve only had the initial blood test where is was 90 something and 1 follow up where it had gone down to 72, I’m still waiting on my recent blood results but am hopeful it’s gone down again. I don’t have any way to test myself and am trying to follow slimming world to lose weight, only leaflets or information I have I got from diabetes uk and nothing from doctor’s at all, the last visit they proded my feet, no clue why and I hate people touching or coming close to me, I ended up with bad shakes and hyperventilating with panic, as I fear people that much, I don’t know if diabetes will make that worse and I care more about that as it’s a struggle I’ve had all my life than about the diabetes at the moment, as that affects my life far more, if my socialphobia gets out of control I will hide at home and refuse to leave my safe space.

 

[Leadinglights]

I’ve only had the initial blood test where is was 90 something and 1 follow up where it had gone down to 72, I’m still waiting on my recent blood results but am hopeful it’s gone down again. I don’t have any way to test myself and am trying to follow slimming world to lose weight, only leaflets or information I have I got from diabetes uk and nothing from doctor’s at all, the last visit they proded my feet, no clue why and I hate people touching or coming close to me, I ended up with bad shakes and hyperventilating with panic, as I fear people that much, I don’t know if diabetes will make that worse and I care more about that as it’s a struggle I’ve had all my life than about the diabetes at the moment, as that affects my life far more, if my socialphobia gets out of control I will hide at home and refuse to leave my safe space.

You are making good progress with your strategy and Slimming World does help but can be a bit too carb heavy compared to a low carb approach unless you are careful and make lower carb choices for meals. You could have a look at this link as you may pick out some ideas to complement your SW regime. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
The reason for checking your feet is that people with diabetes can have impaired circulation which can lead to complications and people can be more susceptible to fungal infections of their feet hence the routine annual check.
Many people find it useful to have a home testing finger prick monitor so they can have control over managing their condition and find a way of eating which helps reduce their blood glucose. A good strategy is testing before you eat and after 2 hours as that will tell you how well you tolerate the carbs in your meal if the increase is no more than 2-3mmol/l or no more than 8-8.5mmol/l after 2 hours.
Testing first thing in the morning will help keep a check on progress day to day, week to week etc. Inexpensive monitors can be bought on line, GlucoNavii, TEE2 or Contour Blue are ones with the cheaper strips.

 

[timehastoldme]

Hi Skyfae,

Can you change dr's? If not, do they do e-consultation? I'm anxious and medicated, so any time I have to go in, I write things in advance and set my boundaries, I'll often send that to the surgery ahead of my appointment.

They prod and probe your feet to check the pulse is strong and that the feeling is there, diabetes can damage the little blood vessels. Eyes will be checked at some point, also little blood vessels, and you may have blood/urine checked for kidney function (same thing).

I went in for hypertension, and said if they put me on a scales I didn't want to know, they tested the blood and found everything was high.

My Hba1C was 59 first time, one month later 55, and they'll check in 3 months. Before I went in for the chat and the prodding I did the research and came up with a plan, which I outlined with the nurse and she agreed with it.

Forearmed in these things can help, if Metformin isn't it for you, I'd write the side effects down, hand them over and ask for an alternative. You don't have to give them more than that.

If you can go low carb (below 130g a day) that'll bring weight and glucose down. I've been below (except for Christmas day) since December 7th and have lost a stone and a third at last check. That time I looked at the scales, taking charge of my health has given me confidence to do so. I've been unable to do that for 20 years.

If you can get a little finger prick monitor and test yourself before you eat, then two hours later, you'll be able to see yourself how the different foods affect your glucose. I tried Aldi's pea penne yesterday and that only increased it by 1mmol, which was exciting (I miss pasta).

Good luck!

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi Skyfae,

Can you change dr's? If not, do they do e-consultation? I'm anxious and medicated, so any time I have to go in, I write things in advance and set my boundaries, I'll often send that to the surgery ahead of my appointment.

They prod and probe your feet to check the pulse is strong and that the feeling is there, diabetes can damage the little blood vessels. Eyes will be checked at some point, also little blood vessels, and you may have blood/urine checked for kidney function (same thing).

I went in for hypertension, and said if they put me on a scales I didn't want to know, they tested the blood and found everything was high.

My Hba1C was 59 first time, one month later 55, and they'll check in 3 months. Before I went in for the chat and the prodding I did the research and came up with a plan, which I outlined with the nurse and she agreed with it.

Forearmed in these things can help, if Metformin isn't it for you, I'd write the side effects down, hand them over and ask for an alternative. You don't have to give them more than that.

If you can go low carb (below 130g a day) that'll bring weight and glucose down. I've been below (except for Christmas day) since December 7th and have lost a stone and a third at last check. That time I looked at the scales, taking charge of my health has given me confidence to do so. I've been unable to do that for 20 years.

If you can get a little finger prick monitor and test yourself before you eat, then two hours later, you'll be able to see yourself how the different foods affect your glucose. I tried Aldi's pea penne yesterday and that only increased it by 1mmol, which was exciting (I miss pasta).

Good luck!

A good alternative to wheat based pasta is the black bean or edamame bean fettuccini, spaghetti or noodles, they are all low carb about 15g carbs per 100g dry weight pasta. I find 25g dry weight cooked is plenty for a portion.

 

[Mark72]

Hi Skyfae, welcome to the forums.

None of what you've talked about seems like particularly good behaviour from your GP surgery. I don't know if there are alternative practices you could try locally or if that feels worse than carrying on?

The odd tests they do are important unfortunately. As well as poking your feet they should have listened with something similar to the things they use to check unborn baby's heart beats and they should do both feet not just one. The kidney function for me was just a blood test - comparatively easy and the eye test not much different from any other eye test except the drops they put in your eyes which can prevent you from driving for a few hours after so be prepared you might need to arrange ways of getting there and back you're less comfortable with. You should really insist on the ones you've not yet had but they may be in hand, the 2nd appointment was when I had my first foot check as well.

I was diagnosed back in June and have followed the low carb route Leadinglights has mentioned with pretty good success. It took a month or so to move from dropping everything (not good or fun!) to working out a diet that was more balanced and which I can stick to. It's also helped me lose weight, quite dramatically at first but stabilising now. Reducing carbs and not just sugar as well as doing whatever exercise we're capable of seem to benefit most of us in managing blood sugar levels and with that the potential for complications (feet/hands, kidneys, eyes and heart health). Get the blood sugar under control and the doctors will probably leave you alone for 12 months at a time.

 

[CliffH]

Does anyone have any advice on how to cut down seeing various medical people as I'm finding that the hardest part apart from the Metformin not agreeing with my body, been rather more ill since taking those tablets then I was before I started, I didnt feel ill at all until then, and I'm much more concerned about my Social Anxiety flarring up badly due to keep having to have blood test and being spoken at by medical staff than I am about the Diabetes. As a series panic attack can cause a black out or even collapse for me, so far I'm just anxious and tearful and fed up of seeing so many people. I find new people being around me fear panic inducing and I dont know if there is any advice or sites I can read to get a good solution. I havent found the Diabetic Nurse at my doctors practice is any help at all as she seems to think my Social Anxiety is not important.

Are you receiving any psychological help for your Social Anxiety in general? If so, it would be worth discussing this specific issue with your clinician. If you're not getting any help currently, you may want to ask your GP to refer you to your local NHS 'psychological therapies' service.

 

[Lucyr]

Does anyone have any advice on how to cut down seeing various medical people

You shouldn’t need to see anyone regularly and even then appointments can be phone based. You should have two in person appointments a year though, one for a blood test and one for an eye check.

 

[Lucyr]

you may want to ask your GP to refer you to your local NHS 'psychological therapies' service

You should be able to refer yourself without speaking to the GP

 

[Winifreds child]

Hi Skyfae,

Can you change dr's? If not, do they do e-consultation? I'm anxious and medicated, so any time I have to go in, I write things in advance and set my boundaries, I'll often send that to the surgery ahead of my appointment.

They prod and probe your feet to check the pulse is strong and that the feeling is there, diabetes can damage the little blood vessels. Eyes will be checked at some point, also little blood vessels, and you may have blood/urine checked for kidney function (same thing).

I went in for hypertension, and said if they put me on a scales I didn't want to know, they tested the blood and found everything was high.

My Hba1C was 59 first time, one month later 55, and they'll check in 3 months. Before I went in for the chat and the prodding I did the research and came up with a plan, which I outlined with the nurse and she agreed with it.

Forearmed in these things can help, if Metformin isn't it for you, I'd write the side effects down, hand them over and ask for an alternative. You don't have to give them more than that.

If you can go low carb (below 130g a day) that'll bring weight and glucose down. I've been below (except for Christmas day) since December 7th and have lost a stone and a third at last check. That time I looked at the scales, taking charge of my health has given me confidence to do so. I've been unable to do that for 20 years.

If you can get a little finger prick monitor and test yourself before you eat, then two hours later, you'll be able to see yourself how the different foods affect your glucose. I tried Aldi's pea penne yesterday and that only increased it by 1mmol, which was exciting (I miss pasta).

Good luck!

It sounds like you are doing really well and you are getting yourself organised like you I’m trying to get it down through diet it takes a bit of thought I must admit I’m not particularly enjoying meals right now but if you can deal with it without medication I think it’s the best thing …about changing doctors I think you can but be carful do research on the new one before you change ….I hope you continue to do se well as I hope to myself

 

[Leadinglights]

It sounds like you are doing really well and you are getting yourself organised like you I’m trying to get it down through diet it takes a bit of thought I must admit I’m not particularly enjoying meals right now but if you can deal with it without medication I think it’s the best thing …about changing doctors I think you can but be carful do research on the new one before you change ….I hope you continue to do se well as I hope to myself

What are you not enjoying about your meals, perhaps if you share what you are having we can make some suggestions to make them more tolerable. Maybe you are restricting yourself too much.