Hi, I`m a 54 year old woman who has just been diagnosed with type 1. I recently moved to London and found a new GP who, as a matter of course, ordered a whole set of blood tests. I`ve now been told I`ve had diabetes for so long that I now have nerve damage, glaucoma and heart, liver and kidney damage! This has come as a real shock as my GP where I lived before told me I was suffering from depression and the effects of getting old, and gave me Prozac! I`ve had my gallbladder removed, serious kidney infections which involved me having a catheter inserted for 3 months and heart arrythmia. Last year I fell into a coma for 4 days and diabetes was still not suspected. Thank goodness I moved and found a new GP. I now tell everyone and anyone if they are feeling exhausted, thirsty, infections etc to please please get themselves tested for diabetes as not knowing nearly cost me my life. On a positive note I`m so glad I found this forum!
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- Thread starter rosie56
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Steff
Little Miss Chatterbox
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Rosie and a warm welcome to the forum wow im so sorry to hear you have had such a rough ride with things must of been so tough battleing through it all and very scary at the same time, im so pleased you now have a GP and a new area to live things are looking up eventually,anything you need to know just ask we are a freindly reliable bunch on here x
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Oh my goodness Rosie! Welcome to the forum 🙂 So glad you have finally been diagnosed after such terrible oversights (or so it seems, at least). I was diagnosed aged 49 after a couple of years of symptoms, but when I nearly fell into a coma and went to A&E I was diagnosed straightaway.
How could they have missed something like diabetes? Surely blood tests were taken when you went into a coma and how did they bring you out of it? Like you, my Type1 was slow onset and we have quite a few misdiagnosed people here who have terrible stories to relate. I despair sometimes of some members of the medical profession.
What treatment are you on? If you have any questions, please let us know and we will do our best to help. 🙂
How could they have missed something like diabetes? Surely blood tests were taken when you went into a coma and how did they bring you out of it? Like you, my Type1 was slow onset and we have quite a few misdiagnosed people here who have terrible stories to relate. I despair sometimes of some members of the medical profession.
What treatment are you on? If you have any questions, please let us know and we will do our best to help. 🙂
Hi Rosie,
Welcome to the forum. I am astonished at your lack of treatment or diagnosis with your old GP - thank goodness you now have a new supportive GP - lets hope you start to feel an improvement in how you feel soon.
Nice to have you on the forum.
Welcome to the forum. I am astonished at your lack of treatment or diagnosis with your old GP - thank goodness you now have a new supportive GP - lets hope you start to feel an improvement in how you feel soon.
Nice to have you on the forum.
Welcome to the forum, Rosie.
I've been lucky enough to have been able to reverse some of my symptoms through diet and exercise. But before diagnosis, I too had put most of how I felt down to 'just getting older'. How wrong I was to think like that!! For a doctor to have said that to you in the past, well, I splutter with indignation! 😡
Anyway, you are most welcome here.
Andy 🙂
I've been lucky enough to have been able to reverse some of my symptoms through diet and exercise. But before diagnosis, I too had put most of how I felt down to 'just getting older'. How wrong I was to think like that!! For a doctor to have said that to you in the past, well, I splutter with indignation! 😡
Anyway, you are most welcome here.
Andy 🙂
Thanks everyone
Hi, thank you all for your kind comments. I was in Egypt when I collapsed (and not a tourist area ) so I was treated for severe dehydration at the local hospital. Of course at that time I was totally unaware I had diabetes and was not conscious to explain anything even if they could understand me. I have never been so scared waking up in a ward that looked like something out of the Victorian era with very basic equipment with HUGE needles sticking out of me. They could not even give me a drip or injection unless I paid up front. They had a guard at the front door in case any of the patients escaped without paying! I love Egypt, my husband is Egyptian and it`s my second home but I am very wary about ever going back and I feel so so sorry for all the people who can`t get treatment because they simply have no money.
I am so grateful that we live in Britain and are looked after so well and understand that sometimes GP`s get it wrong.
Hi, thank you all for your kind comments. I was in Egypt when I collapsed (and not a tourist area ) so I was treated for severe dehydration at the local hospital. Of course at that time I was totally unaware I had diabetes and was not conscious to explain anything even if they could understand me. I have never been so scared waking up in a ward that looked like something out of the Victorian era with very basic equipment with HUGE needles sticking out of me. They could not even give me a drip or injection unless I paid up front. They had a guard at the front door in case any of the patients escaped without paying! I love Egypt, my husband is Egyptian and it`s my second home but I am very wary about ever going back and I feel so so sorry for all the people who can`t get treatment because they simply have no money.
I am so grateful that we live in Britain and are looked after so well and understand that sometimes GP`s get it wrong.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Ah! That does explain a few things Rosie, thank you. 🙂 It is a terrible pity that there are treatments available for people but they may not get them because of cost in some parts of the world. I remember asking soon after diagnosis what happened in some of the poorer parts of the world if someone got diabetes (mindful at the time of all the stuff I was getting free on prescription). The nurse simply said 'They die'. So sad. So we must be grateful for what we have here, you are right.
MeanMom
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent
Welcome Rosie, but sorry you have to find yourself here.
My daughter was not dx for 18 months after the start of her symptoms - her Doctor kept telling me it was her age and never tested for D despite (this time last year) sending her for blood tests. She already had/has eye problems and I believe her development has been delayed due to so much weight loss. She has also had muscle wastage. The good news for her and hopefully for you is that with treatment there has been improvements to all her problems.
I don't blame our GP personally but I do think all GP's should be more aware of the symptoms of D and that because the pancreas can carry on making insulin for a while 'decline' is not always sudden and extreme. We are very lucky in this country with the treatment we do get, random though it sometimes seems.
hope you start feeling better soon - the members on here are a great help x
My daughter was not dx for 18 months after the start of her symptoms - her Doctor kept telling me it was her age and never tested for D despite (this time last year) sending her for blood tests. She already had/has eye problems and I believe her development has been delayed due to so much weight loss. She has also had muscle wastage. The good news for her and hopefully for you is that with treatment there has been improvements to all her problems.
I don't blame our GP personally but I do think all GP's should be more aware of the symptoms of D and that because the pancreas can carry on making insulin for a while 'decline' is not always sudden and extreme. We are very lucky in this country with the treatment we do get, random though it sometimes seems.
hope you start feeling better soon - the members on here are a great help x
getcarter76
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
😱 I am sorry you have had all this to contend with.
A big welcome to you though...it sounds like you are going through it all at the mo.
This forum is great for support and any questions whatever they may be, there is always help here at hand.
It sounds like as you have the D diagnosed, some right will be done and prevent anything worsening at the very least. Thank goodness for your recent change in Dr. Its amazing what a fresh pair of eyes can see but somewhat shocking that Dr's can get blinkered by only seeing whats in front of them and not see anything further than that. Gosh i am angry for you...!
A big warm welcome to this forum though...🙂
Bernie xx
A big welcome to you though...it sounds like you are going through it all at the mo.
This forum is great for support and any questions whatever they may be, there is always help here at hand.
It sounds like as you have the D diagnosed, some right will be done and prevent anything worsening at the very least. Thank goodness for your recent change in Dr. Its amazing what a fresh pair of eyes can see but somewhat shocking that Dr's can get blinkered by only seeing whats in front of them and not see anything further than that. Gosh i am angry for you...!
A big warm welcome to this forum though...🙂
Bernie xx
getcarter76
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I was also told this when i asked what did they do in the 'old days' (i was only 6 at the time). I was also told at this time i wouldn't live to see 40 😱 ...something that still haunts me today!!
Bernie xx
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
That won't be a problem for me! 😉 However, I am determined to get my Sir Richard Nabarro medal for 50 years with diabetes (although I won't mind if they cure me before then! 🙂)
getcarter76
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Ahhhh yes the medal...I'm still 22 years away from that or only 22 years away
Who recognises the length of service so to speak? I wouldn't mind a letter from Her Maj on my wall recognising services rendered to medical science!
More chance of climbing Everest than getting cured me thinks but as i always say..happy to be proven wrong and i will always live in hope 🙂
Bernie xx
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I think it's Diabetes UK that issue the medals.
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