-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Stupat
- Thread starter Stupat
- Start date
- Status
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I think it will very much depend on where you live and how your GP practice or diabetic clinic are operating. There have been many new diagnoses of diabetes as a result of Covid and people who have not had appointments who are now presenting with diabetes rather than prediabetes it is a bit of a lottery as to when people are having their routine check ups. I should ring and ask.
Its been 18 months since I seen someone. I am having pain in my feet and have recently had a mini stroke affecting my left eye
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
In that case you should definitely contact your GP or clinic and explain you have those symptoms and ask for an appointment asap.
Thank you for your advice i will do that
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi and welcome.
Congrats on passing the 50year marker. I understand you will have seen lots of progress in monitoring and management during that time. Do you have any of the new technology to help you manage your diabetes, like Freestyle Libre Sensors or a pump?
Sorry to hear that you are having problems which may be related to your diabetes. Definitely ring your diabetes clinic and ask. I had a review with the consultant just before lockdown in Feb 20 and then a telephone appointment in Nov last year and I have a telephone appt scheduled for a week Tue, so have just arranged an appointment with nurse at GP surgery for next Wed to have bloods taken and BP and weight and feet tickled etc. in advance of speaking to the consultant so he should have all the blood results by then. I have only been diagnosed just over 2 years so this may be why they are keeping a closer eye on me with more frequent appointments. I have Freestyle Libre sensors on prescription now which really helps me to manage my diabetes well and enables me to share data with the consultant.
Hope you manage to get an appointment and they are able to support you with the issues you are having. Come back and let us know how you get on please as we are always interested to learn from other people's experiences
Congrats on passing the 50year marker. I understand you will have seen lots of progress in monitoring and management during that time. Do you have any of the new technology to help you manage your diabetes, like Freestyle Libre Sensors or a pump?
Sorry to hear that you are having problems which may be related to your diabetes. Definitely ring your diabetes clinic and ask. I had a review with the consultant just before lockdown in Feb 20 and then a telephone appointment in Nov last year and I have a telephone appt scheduled for a week Tue, so have just arranged an appointment with nurse at GP surgery for next Wed to have bloods taken and BP and weight and feet tickled etc. in advance of speaking to the consultant so he should have all the blood results by then. I have only been diagnosed just over 2 years so this may be why they are keeping a closer eye on me with more frequent appointments. I have Freestyle Libre sensors on prescription now which really helps me to manage my diabetes well and enables me to share data with the consultant.
Hope you manage to get an appointment and they are able to support you with the issues you are having. Come back and let us know how you get on please as we are always interested to learn from other people's experiences
Hi there yeah I am at the moment using liber sensor and have had a letter telling me I can now have the new liber sensor 2. This has been the best advance yet and does help me manage better. I had a phone appointment a year ago but feel I really need my feet checked and eyes checked again. Thank you for your advice and I will contact them next week
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
50 years next year for me @Stupat !
I actually had my annual GP surgery D check - toe tickling and all that - on December 18th last year. However a few days ago I had a text asking me to book an appointment for my D check from them, so I must ring em and investigate. if they're sure they really want to do another one yet?
Seems to me that they've decided they should 'open up' a bit more, so this is one of the things on the list, and now that their systems can eg 'Text everyone with Diabetes to come for a check up' or everyone with CVD to come for an ECG or whatever routine checks they're supposed to do for common conditions.
The thing was though last Dec, she said they were not now allowed to use the normal monofilament to test the nerves in the foot, as everything now must be single use, hence she used a lancet which she chucked in the sharps bin when she'd finished. I was killing myself giggling as I deliberately said Ow! every time she touched me, instead of my normal 'Yeah' in a bored tone of voice.
I do appreciate the checks and she knows that - same lady's been doing this check for me for years now. Just be pre warned about the lancets though in case your operator is heavy handed!
I had a hospital D consultant appts last Jan and August in person and the next was due this Feb which was a phone one.
I actually had my annual GP surgery D check - toe tickling and all that - on December 18th last year. However a few days ago I had a text asking me to book an appointment for my D check from them, so I must ring em and investigate. if they're sure they really want to do another one yet?
Seems to me that they've decided they should 'open up' a bit more, so this is one of the things on the list, and now that their systems can eg 'Text everyone with Diabetes to come for a check up' or everyone with CVD to come for an ECG or whatever routine checks they're supposed to do for common conditions.
The thing was though last Dec, she said they were not now allowed to use the normal monofilament to test the nerves in the foot, as everything now must be single use, hence she used a lancet which she chucked in the sharps bin when she'd finished. I was killing myself giggling as I deliberately said Ow! every time she touched me, instead of my normal 'Yeah' in a bored tone of voice.
I do appreciate the checks and she knows that - same lady's been doing this check for me for years now. Just be pre warned about the lancets though in case your operator is heavy handed!
I had a hospital D consultant appts last Jan and August in person and the next was due this Feb which was a phone one.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I’m in a similar situation @Stupat - my annual review was due in Feb. Not heard anything yet... but i’ve been self-funding Dexcom, so i feel i have a pretty good idea of how my levels have been behaving.
But yes… if you are aware of changes that have happened, please do contact your GP to ask for an appointment. Are you seen at the hospital too?
But yes… if you are aware of changes that have happened, please do contact your GP to ask for an appointment. Are you seen at the hospital too?
It definitely seems to be one of those things that varies by area.
I had my annual review this week.
The last time I had seen a consultant was 2019 but I had a couple of telephone consultations with my DSN during the last year.
In your position, I would be chasing your clinic md explaining the your situation.
I had my annual review this week.
The last time I had seen a consultant was 2019 but I had a couple of telephone consultations with my DSN during the last year.
In your position, I would be chasing your clinic md explaining the your situation.
I havent been seen at the hospital since before lockdown and have only had one phone call asking how I was doing. I am on novorapid and toujeo using libre sensor. My average glucose according to my reader is between 8 and 9. Get lots of spikes though high and low
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Spikes can usually be remedied or at least reduced by bolusing a little further in advance. Not sure how long you currently give your Novo(not so)Rapid to get going but I found I needed to pre-bolus by as much as an hour or more on a morning for breakfast to prevent spikes and 20-25 mins at other times of day. I am now using Fiasp which is a bit quicker but I still need 45 mins on a morning and that is eating slow release carbs and 15-20 mins at other times of the day unless it is quite a fatty meal when I inject just before I eat and generally split the dose.
Of course everyone is different and I wouldn't dream of suggesting everyone needs to wait so long or tries waiting that long without cautiously increasing their current prebolus time by 5 mins each day until they find the sweet spot for them. I just seem to be very quick at digesting carbs and rather slow to utilize insulin but I am not the only person on the forum who needs to pre-bolus so far in advance and Libre is brilliant for being able to watch for the insulin starting to kick in and then eating your meal.
I usually inject my basal and bolus insulin as soon as I wake up, then I get up and make myself a coffee and get my breakfast ready then I keep scanning my Libre every 5 mins and wait until I get low 6s or mid-high 5s with a slanted downward arrow and then I eat my breakfast and that pretty much prevents any spike with 30g slow release carbs (full fat Greek yoghurt, berries, seeds and a sprinkle of low carb granola)
Anyway, I just thought I would mention that bolusing earlier in advance of meals can improve spikes, since you mention them. As regards lows, do you think it is the NR causing them or the Toujeo which it seems, reading other people's experiences, can be a bit unpredictable sometimes. It is a long acting basal so if you find that you are more active one day and less another it can be difficult to balance it. I love my split dose Levemir because I can reduce my doses if I have had a busy day or done a lot of exercise and it has an immediate effect. Toujeo takes about 3 days to change.
Of course everyone is different and I wouldn't dream of suggesting everyone needs to wait so long or tries waiting that long without cautiously increasing their current prebolus time by 5 mins each day until they find the sweet spot for them. I just seem to be very quick at digesting carbs and rather slow to utilize insulin but I am not the only person on the forum who needs to pre-bolus so far in advance and Libre is brilliant for being able to watch for the insulin starting to kick in and then eating your meal.
I usually inject my basal and bolus insulin as soon as I wake up, then I get up and make myself a coffee and get my breakfast ready then I keep scanning my Libre every 5 mins and wait until I get low 6s or mid-high 5s with a slanted downward arrow and then I eat my breakfast and that pretty much prevents any spike with 30g slow release carbs (full fat Greek yoghurt, berries, seeds and a sprinkle of low carb granola)
Anyway, I just thought I would mention that bolusing earlier in advance of meals can improve spikes, since you mention them. As regards lows, do you think it is the NR causing them or the Toujeo which it seems, reading other people's experiences, can be a bit unpredictable sometimes. It is a long acting basal so if you find that you are more active one day and less another it can be difficult to balance it. I love my split dose Levemir because I can reduce my doses if I have had a busy day or done a lot of exercise and it has an immediate effect. Toujeo takes about 3 days to change.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Do you download your libre to Librelink, to share your results with your doc?
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
As others have said @Stupat things seem very variable across the country.
My appointments with the pump clinic (my consultant +DSN) have roughly kept to the 6 monthly routine but been via video initially and now offered the choice of f-2-f or video. The toe tickling etc at GP was delayed but I caught an appointment in Dec. Blood tests done as part of other necessary tests.
I am self funding sensors so have a good picture of what is going on. By sharing my data I can have a useful conversation with DSN over the phone when needed. ( One when he was stuck in Italy and was working from Home) .
You mention spikes. I was amazed at the size of mine when I got my first Libre. I used the data to help me
- shift my pre meal bolus forward. The timing changes through the day.
- reduce my portion sizes
These both had a big impact on my Time in Range, as well as my HbA1c
My appointments with the pump clinic (my consultant +DSN) have roughly kept to the 6 monthly routine but been via video initially and now offered the choice of f-2-f or video. The toe tickling etc at GP was delayed but I caught an appointment in Dec. Blood tests done as part of other necessary tests.
I am self funding sensors so have a good picture of what is going on. By sharing my data I can have a useful conversation with DSN over the phone when needed. ( One when he was stuck in Italy and was working from Home) .
You mention spikes. I was amazed at the size of mine when I got my first Libre. I used the data to help me
- shift my pre meal bolus forward. The timing changes through the day.
- reduce my portion sizes
These both had a big impact on my Time in Range, as well as my HbA1c
- Status