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Not new to diabetes, just new here.
- Thread starter t2dan
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
t2dan
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
All quite stable at the moment thanks, but always striving for better figures.
Only issue I'm having at the moment is a Diabetes Nurse that shouldn't be a Diabetes Nurse, as she has absolutely no working knowledge of diabetes.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Ah that’s a shame
It can make such a difference to have a positive and constructive relationship with your HCPs. Sadly the reverse can also be true
Hopefully you can find some ways to make it work - even if just a route to getting test results etc.
Is it a newly qualified nurse? Or someone you feel hasn’t kept pace with different treatment options?
t2dan
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
She's not a newly qualified nurse, but relatively new to the GP surgery, unfortunately she is currently the only practicer prescribing nurse in the practice. She has text book learning of diabetes and understands the NHS guidelines, but that's as far as it goes. She's a one size fits all type of HCP, and her communication skills are lacking. She has no interest in you as a patient or anything you're going through at the moment, if your figures don't meet the guidelines then it's all our own doing.Ah that’s a shame
It can make such a difference to have a positive and constructive relationship with your HCPs. Sadly the reverse can also be true
Hopefully you can find some ways to make it work - even if just a route to getting test results etc.
Is it a newly qualified nurse? Or someone you feel hasn’t kept pace with different treatment options?
Sadly my last diabetes practitioner nurse retired a couple of years ago, she was absolutely fantastic and really understood diabetes and the patient, I really miss her.
There is another diabetes nurse at the surgery, but she isn't a prescribing nurse practitioner, and because I'm on insulin I have to see the other nurse most of the time.
I have raised this issue with the practice manager but she just doesn't seem interested. I guess my only long-term course of action will be to make a formal complaint about her, or just be diverted to community diabetes service.
It's a real shame as I've had a great relationship with both my GP and the surgery for some decades now.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Ah that does sound difficult - especially after having had such a good relationship with the predecessor.
I hope it‘s something which evolves and improves over time.
Have you had other input about insulin therapy (eg the BERTIE free online course which is aimed at T1s, but may have some useful basic principles), or a book like ‘think like a pancreas’ by Gary Scheiner?
Might facilitate some more open conversations about fine-tuning your insulin therapy?
I hope it‘s something which evolves and improves over time.
Have you had other input about insulin therapy (eg the BERTIE free online course which is aimed at T1s, but may have some useful basic principles), or a book like ‘think like a pancreas’ by Gary Scheiner?
Might facilitate some more open conversations about fine-tuning your insulin therapy?
t2dan
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
When I was first diagnosed I went on the DESMOND course, and since then have attended X-PERT, and DAFNE (which I understand is the equivalent to BERTIE) when I was switched to insulin even though I'm not on DMI.
I've read many books over the years but not the one you mentioned, I'll check it out.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Sounds like you have had a lot of useful input! Many T2s who get started on insulin and then arrive here with questions and confusion seem to struggle to get many pointers at all.
t2dan
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I definitely think there needs to be better courses tailored to advanced T2ers and those on insulin, the T1 course just isn't the right fit, but certainly gives new insights into diabetes.
The DESMOND course is fine for beginners controlling on diet or starter meds, all be it very brief and basic.
The X-PERT course has an insulin module which I haven't done, but that isn't run in my area currently. I will be speaking to the community diabetes team about that when I see them next month to see if I can go out of area for it.
I consider myself to be quite well educated on my conditions, but sometimes I just need to be able to speak to someone and say "hey, why is this scenario happening to me, and what can I do about it?"
Google and the internet just don't have the answers sometimes, and it's good to be able to speak to someone directly, without having to go through the rigmarole of getting an appointment to see my doctor. Sometimes we just need quick and reliable answers.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Many of us use the forum for just this purpose - because then you can get the advice and suggestions given to others in their appointments all over the country… books they have read… plus other people’s lived experience, of course.
It’s not medical advice, but it has certainly helped me find my way through various diabetes head-scratchers!
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