Not even a phone call after diagnosis!

[Gallo Pinto]

Hello all, this is my first time posting but I have read many posts already. I had some blood tests last week and, unbeknownst to me, was given the hb1ac as well as others.

Looked in my GP surgery app last Friday and saw High Risk of Diabetes! I was shocked, as I had had the test seven months ago and it was 38; no chance of diabetes, I was told. Now I am at 43, so obviously prediabetes.

Twice I have called the surgery for information, and abruptly been told the diabetes nurse was not there. "She'll call you". Still haven't heard from her after two days. No appointment with a GP offered.

İ had gained 7lbs in lockdown and had already begun a low carb diet and I cut out alcohol. Already lost three of those pounds too. I am going for losing a stone, as I have a BMI of 26 now.

It seems the NHS, due to covid and funding cuts, is barely operating now (I have also had a cataract op cancelled and no one will bother even contacting me about rescheduling). Have services for diabetics fallen off a cliff or is it just my surgery (which was OK, pre covid)?ú

Thank God a relative with diabetes is helping me with Blood Sugar Monitoring. I have also read a ton of information this weekend. But I am So frustrated at this shoddy treatment.
Guess I had to vent, as they used to say.

 

[grovesy]

Hello all, this is my first time posting but I have read many posts already. I had some blood tests last week and, unbeknownst to me, was given the hb1ac as well as others.

Looked in my GP surgery app last Friday and saw High Risk of Diabetes! I was shocked, as I had had the test seven months ago and it was 38; no chance of diabetes, I was told. Now I am at 43, so obviously prediabetes.

Twice I have called the surgery for information, and abruptly been told the diabetes nurse was not there. "She'll call you". Still haven't heard from her after two days. No appointment with a GP offered.

İ had gained 7lbs in lockdown and had already begun a low carb diet and I cut out alcohol. Already lost three of those pounds too. I am going for losing a stone, as I have a BMI of 26 now.

It seems the NHS, due to covid and funding cuts, is barely operating now (I have also had a cataract op cancelled and no one will bother even contacting me about rescheduling). Have services for diabetics fallen off a cliff or is it just my surgery (which was OK, pre covid)?ú

Thank God a relative with diabetes is helping me with Blood Sugar Monitoring. I have also read a ton of information this weekend. But I am So frustrated at this shoddy treatment.
Guess I had to vent, as they used to say.

The Diabetic nurse might truly not be there, I know at one point my surgery only had one Diabetic nurse, this was despite them trying to find one.

 

[Deleted member 25517]

Hi Gallo-Pinto

Welcome to Forum 🙂

I'm sorry to hear that you have not received the expected level of care and support at this time. Unfortunately, you are not alone when it comes to this kind of care at the moment. As a charity, we are making access to basic health care rights a campaigning priority moving in to winter.

I am really glad to hear that you have a family member who you can rely on in such uncertain times. In addition to that support, you are always welcome to call our Helpline on 0345 123 2399 for support and information on lifestyle and management. Losing weight and keeping healthy during lock down is real challenge for most of us, including myself, so our Helpline will be able to offer some tips and advise to support you with this.

If you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask!

Rob

 

[Toucan]

Hello @Gallo Pinto and welcome to the forum.
Yes, I am afraid it is something of a Post Code lottery with GP services at this time, and you are certainly not alone in experiencing the lack of response.

Pre-Covid my GP practice was very efficient with providing Diabetic support service. Post-Covid I have had no communication at all and have had great difficulty in getting a blood test booked. Hopefully the service will improve again eventually.

It sounds though as if you have found some useful information for yourself on what to do to try to reduce your Blood Glucose levels.
As you have probably read pre-diabetes means that you are at risk of Diabetes but it is not certainty. This is not a one-way street, and if you act now, as you are doing, you can give yourself a great chance of a future free of diabetes.

If there are any particular things that you would like to know more about, please ask and we will always try to help.

 

[Sharron1]

Hi,
Sorry to read of your experience from your surgery. In my experience it is quite normal. Ironically during pandemic, I had a telephone consulation with my GP, arranged my Hba1c blood test at the surgery, saw the diabetes nurse, had my foot check, weight taken. Results appeared online in 24 hours. I was expecting all sorts of difficulties but none. Very odd (but pleasing).

 

[Perfect10]

I recently had HbA1c of 49 and wasn’t told, it took me 2 weeks before I managed to speak to the receptionist who told me my results without explaining anything. I had never even heard of HbA1c at this point so it meant nothing, I was phoning to find out cholesterol result and didn’t even know I had been tested for diabetes! it was only when I spoke to my daughter later who is a nurse that I found out this indicated I had diabetes!!
I had a follow up test 6 weeks later and reading was 44, again it was the receptionist who told me this. I have since had a letter telling me I am in pre diabetes and telling me to eat a healthy diet - that’s it.
Have found it far more helpful being on this forum!

 

[Sharron1]

I recently had HbA1c of 49 and wasn’t told, it took me 2 weeks before I managed to speak to the receptionist who told me my results without explaining anything. I had never even heard of HbA1c at this point so it meant nothing, I was phoning to find out cholesterol result and didn’t even know I had been tested for diabetes! it was only when I spoke to my daughter later who is a nurse that I found out this indicated I had diabetes!!
I had a follow up test 6 weeks later and reading was 44, again it was the receptionist who told me this. I have since had a letter telling me I am in pre diabetes and telling me to eat a healthy diet - that’s it.
Have found it far more helpful being on this forum!

I had a similar experience and found this forum so helpful. Ask away.

 

[DianeCatCrazy]

Same here, but surgery kept referring me to different diet places. First the NHS prediabetic course, then MoreLife. Both told me currently suspended but I can eat healthily. These forums and this website are the best help and support I’ve found. Good luck

 

[Annemarie]

Hello all, this is my first time posting but I have read many posts already. I had some blood tests last week and, unbeknownst to me, was given the hb1ac as well as others.

Looked in my GP surgery app last Friday and saw High Risk of Diabetes! I was shocked, as I had had the test seven months ago and it was 38; no chance of diabetes, I was told. Now I am at 43, so obviously prediabetes.

Twice I have called the surgery for information, and abruptly been told the diabetes nurse was not there. "She'll call you". Still haven't heard from her after two days. No appointment with a GP offered.

İ had gained 7lbs in lockdown and had already begun a low carb diet and I cut out alcohol. Already lost three of those pounds too. I am going for losing a stone, as I have a BMI of 26 now.

It seems the NHS, due to covid and funding cuts, is barely operating now (I have also had a cataract op cancelled and no one will bother even contacting me about rescheduling). Have services for diabetics fallen off a cliff or is it just my surgery (which was OK, pre covid)?ú

Thank God a relative with diabetes is helping me with Blood Sugar Monitoring. I have also read a ton of information this weekend. But I am So frustrated at this shoddy treatment.
Guess I had to vent, as they used to say.

Any chance of changing your GP? It sounds like you need better support. Delayed cataract operation could have consequences, keep pushing for a response. Good luck!

 

[Ditto]

Hello. 🙂 I think everything's fallen off a cliff. 🙄

 

[trophywench]

@Gallo Pinto - who started the ball rolling as it were, with the cataract? I ask because it was my optician who initially diagnosed and referred me for both mine, and he was very helpful. Hence if I was worried about the delay, I'd ask him whether that was going to be a 'real' problem.

I expect our hospital is the same. There were a lot of people in the first waiting room and also the second one, where they start putting the eye drops in, pre-op. There were 4 or 5 other people in the operating room with me - a nurse sat alongside the operating table holding my hand - if you need them to stop so you can cough or something squeeze hard LOL. Surgeon doing the deed, a student nurse and a student or more junior doc. Then within 15 minutes nursie's leading you back to the waiting room where she plies you with a drink and a biscuit, before getting reception (in the first waiting room) to ring whoever is picking you up, and they don't let you leave until the collector announces his arrival, and room 2 are positive you're OK. They also did my BG before and after, to make sure I was A OK.

There were (comparatively) a lot of people every step of the way - same day surgery unit when they later took some metalwork out of my knee (it was in there deliberately to wire my smashed patella together again when I broke it) and some of it was trying to make a bid for freedom LOL) and much the same again. Only difference was a general anaesthetic for the second one so longer recovery time after the procedure.

When you think of all the cleaning before and after and the social distancing required, well yes - things like quick Day Surgery for anything that isn't dire, will necessarily be delayed - understanding all that really doesn't help though, I know.

You do absolutely have my real sympathy though.