Newly Diagnosed what should I ask?

[Davmii]

Hi all,

I had blood tests after going to doctor with a nasty rash at the begiinning of this month and got a letter to make a "non-urgent" appointment. Only been with the surgery a few weeks after moving house for the 3rd time in a year. Anyway I got informed I have T2 diabetes, which explained a few things like my constant thirst over the last year or more, indication that I have been diabetic for quite a while. Anyway the doc wanted more blood to check something, a lot of what he said went right over my head I'm afraid but I have to go back on Thursday to discuss the results and what meds he wants to put me on. Initial test showed high blood sugar and high cholesterol, no figures so far, just high.
My question to you lovely ppl is what should I be asking him and what information should I be getting, what services offered etc. I live in Wales so we already have free prescriptions. The things I have gathered are fairly important are as listed below:
Retinopathy

Blood sugar test meter and some idea of target figures etc. Any tips on the easiest to use and least painful ways to get the sample? I have a fear of needles and injections even though I know it's irrational and never as bad as I anticipate.

Podiatrist

HbA1c levels

Thanks all, glad I found this community so soon after diagnosis, but I do spend most of my life connected to the internet one way or another.

 

[Northerner]

Hi, I would suggest having a read of DUK's 15 healthcare essentials:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/upload/About us/15 measures checklist.pdf

This should give you a good idea of what they should be providing and the GP can tell you how and when 🙂

There is a possibility that they will be reluctant to prescribe test strips for you , but if you read Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter before you go, this should give you a good understanding of the benefits of testing so you can argue your case. It's important to be assertive, ask for things to be explained or repeated if you didn't quite 'get it' the first time, and show you are highly-motivated to learn how to manage your diabetes well. I would also ask if there is a diabetes education course you can attend - examples are XPert and DESMOND, but there might be something different in your area.

Good luck - let us know how it goes! 🙂

 

[Copepod]

Welcome Davmii

Tips for less painful blood testing - use the right depth setting (shortest is least painful), but ensure that you have long enough lancet to get blood first time; prick side of finger, not pads.

Blood glucose targets here http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Monitoring/Blood_glucose/Blood_glucose_targets/ Please remember that it will take time to get your levels into normal ranges, so don't worry if initial readings are higher than recommended.

Hopefully you will never get retinopathy, but yearly tests for early signs of retinopathy by digital photographs at an optician or eye clinic are important.

Unless you have problems with sensations in your feet, you are unlikely to see a podiatrist. Sensations should be tested at least once a year, by a health professional, using a nylon microfilament.

 

[Northerner]

...Unless you have problems with sensations in your feet, you are unlikely to see a podiatrist. Sensations should be tested at least once a year, by a health professional, using a nylon microfilament.

This could very well be down to where you live i.e. the postcode lottery. I've never had any problems with my feet, yet I get to see a podiatrist annually.

I use an Accu Chek meter from Roche and I've heard several people say that their finger-pricker is the best, which I would also agree with 🙂 Your PCT may have rules over which particular meter and strips can be prescribed.

 

[brett]

Hi agree with all of the above. Something i have learned is to take all the notes you can from the above posts and also anything else you can think of., and bring them with you. Just so you dont leave and then remember something you forgot to ask.

 

[Davmii]

been to doctor today

Ok so I have had my results and visit to doctor. My cholesterol is 6.7 and HbA1c is 128, indicating I have been diabetic for quite a while apparently.
Been prescribed 500mg tabs of Metaformin. Start with 1 a day and working up to 3 a day over the next month to help get BG levels down and next appointment in 1 month. I will also get an appointment to see the practice Diabetic specialist nurse in due course. Nothing for cholesterol as yet, he says let's do one thing at a time which seems prudent to me.
I asked about a BG meter and he said I don't need one as "what could I do if readings were high anyway? I said I would like to monitor what effect various foods have on BG levels but he didn't seem to think that was needed at this point. I'll go with his suggestions for now I suppose but not totally happy with it as I would like to take some control and can't do that without some data to work with. May just buy a meter myself anyway, I will have to think about that one. No dietary advice as yet except to avoid refined sugar. The only effects I have noticed of the diabetes is thirst and excess urination, which seems to have decreased since I cut out all sweets and sugar just a couple of weeks ago.
Thanks for the helpful advice, it is appreciated 🙂

 

[Caroline]

Can't add to advice, but welcome tot he forum.