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Surgery taking the initiative

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MarcLister

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A week or so someone from my surgery rang and left a message to ring back. I did and the woman who rang was away but I managed to get in touch with her today.

She asked if I knew "who was looking after me" in terms of my diabetes care, them at the surgery or the hospital. I said I didn't really know and told her when I was last at the hospital, early December last year.

So she suggested that the surgery take care of me as I'm much closer to them. Its a 15 minute walk there compared to about 25 mins drive to the hospital if I can get a lift or perhaps an hours worth of buses if I can't.

So she then books me in on the 21st of April for an appointment with the diabetes nurse there, which is good as she's a nice nurse and I know her. Also I'm happy as the surgery are doing their job better than the hospital I'd say. I've also been booked in for an HbA1c test as well. And something about electrolytes and kidney stuff? :confused:

Anyway me is happy as finally someone is taking the initiative and keeping an eye on my diabetes care. Although I don't like needles, I've been booked in with their best blood taker. :D That and it isn't a fasting blood test. 😎
 
Sounds good! Its amazing how much it can lift your spirirts when someone extends the offer of good care for a change! Good luck x
 
Yes. Had felt a bit abandoned by the staff at MK. Nice to know someone is actually looking out for me, in a diabetic way!

Will be able to pester someone for a podiatrist's appointment. I thought new diabetics were meant to see a podiatrist asap after diagnosis. I was diagnosed in November 2009 and still nothing so I might ask on the 21st. I think the surgery don't have a podiatrist who visits but I'm still going to ask if they can help me with that. 🙂
 
It's nice to know someone is getting good care from their GP surgery. Wish I could say the same about mine. Last time I tried for an appointment I had to wait a week for it. Good job I didn't have something catching or lethal...
 
MarcLister said:
Yes. Had felt a bit abandoned by the staff at MK. Nice to know someone is actually looking out for me, in a diabetic way!

Will be able to pester someone for a podiatrist's appointment. I thought new diabetics were meant to see a podiatrist asap after diagnosis. I was diagnosed in November 2009 and still nothing so I might ask on the 21st. I think the surgery don't have a podiatrist who visits but I'm still going to ask if they can help me with that. 🙂
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I have never seen anyone, but in my clinic there is a foot clinic! And it always looks busy so I dont know if I should have darkened their door or not. No foot problems at present though.

Its funny what you learn though, I heard in DAFNE that my injection sites should be checked by the doctor every six months for lumps (of what? 😉) and to this day no-one has ever (dared to) ask. Odd.

Great to hear your surgery are on the ball though. I hope they keep the good work up. Through my diabetes I have built up a good rapour with mine. I value them very much actually, even though I go to the hospital for care they have always been very good to me.
 
Caroline Wilson said:
It's nice to know someone is getting good care from their GP surgery. Wish I could say the same about mine. Last time I tried for an appointment I had to wait a week for it. Good job I didn't have something catching or lethal...
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When you ring up for a diabetes checkup appointment, cough and splutter down the phone. 😉
 
MarcLister said:
Yes. Had felt a bit abandoned by the staff at MK. Nice to know someone is actually looking out for me, in a diabetic way!

Will be able to pester someone for a podiatrist's appointment. I thought new diabetics were meant to see a podiatrist asap after diagnosis. I was diagnosed in November 2009 and still nothing so I might ask on the 21st. I think the surgery don't have a podiatrist who visits but I'm still going to ask if they can help me with that. 🙂
Click to expand...

I had my feet checked by the nurse at the GP surgery about a month after diagnosis. In my area, the diabetes clinic at the hospital suggested that I register with the Podiatary Service, which I did some time ago (about two months ago), and now I have my appointment with them tomorrow at the local walk-in centre.

I get the impression that if I hadn't registered for the service no-one would have been following up the checks as I think you're supposed to have them every 6 months i.e. my GP surgery haven't called me back and it's now 9 months since last check.
 
Northerner said:
I had my feet checked by the nurse at the GP surgery about a month after diagnosis. In my area, the diabetes clinic at the hospital suggested that I register with the Podiatary Service, which I did some time ago (about two months ago), and now I have my appointment with them tomorrow at the local walk-in centre.

I get the impression that if I hadn't registered for the service no-one would have been following up the checks as I think you're supposed to have them every 6 months i.e. my GP surgery haven't called me back and it's now 9 months since last check.
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Hmm Podiatry service? I'll ask on April 21st and see what the nurse says. 🙂
 
When I was discharged from the hospital, I was told to visit my GP with a letter, she was the one who called an ambulance and sent me into hospital direct from the health centre surgery, when I checked with her she arranged for me to see the podiatrist that has a surgery at our local health centre, and they send me an appointment every three months, they cut my toenails and general check of the feet and circulation.
John.
 
ukjohn said:
When I was discharged from the hospital, I was told to visit my GP with a letter, she was the one who called an ambulance and sent me into hospital direct from the health centre surgery, when I checked with her she arranged for me to see the podiatrist that has a surgery at our local health centre, and they send me an appointment every three months, they cut my toenails and general check of the feet and circulation.
John.
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You lucky git! 😎

I really shouldn't be allowed to, nor do I want to, cut my toenails. I've managed to give myself ingrowing toenails 3 times in the past. :D Thankfully all before my diabetes diagnosis.

Think I really will pester someone to either sort me a podiatrist's appointment, either at the surgery or at home, or if they can't arrange one, get me in touch with a podiatrist on the NHS.
 
Hi, well I really must check this out with my GP

I currently visit the Glasgow Scholl centre every 8 weeks at a cost of 32.00 a time.

Lucky people getting free treatment

I will let you know how I get on

Hazel
 
Hazel said:
Hi, well I really must check this out with my GP

I currently visit the Glasgow Scholl centre every 8 weeks at a cost of 32.00 a time.

Lucky people getting free treatment

I will let you know how I get on

Hazel
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Crikey, ain't good that. You should be able to get your GP to help you out there. ?32 every 2 months is quite a bit really.
 
I still am waiting for anyone to send me an appointment , anyways im also booked in for my HbA1c test earlier then i was told but hay ho thats on the 21st April as well.
 
I would not trust my GP surgery with my diabetes care as a type 1. They are not specialists and can only give general advice. There is someone who is called the 'diabetes nurse' at my surgery but she does not know much about diabetes, she isn't like the DSNs at the hospital. She only gives general advice eg walk more. When I have needed more specific advice, like when I was changing insulins, she got a nurse in from the hospital to give me advice. In the past I have had a letter from the GP asking me to go to the hospital for blood tests so I suspect they would just use the hospital facilities anyway, they don't have any specialist equipment. It would not save me very much hassle. I would rather cut the GP out of my care than the hospital.

It may be cynical but I have heard that GPs get more money the more people with chronic conditions like diabetes they care for, so maybe that's why they are so keen!
 
I am the same as Lizzie, I wouldn't use my GP only for my diabetes care. I actually travel quite a way to go to a hospital with a MODY DSN and MODY specialist Dr.

I wonder if you can get some of the services from your GP and keep your care at the hospital. I have seen the diabetes nurse at my gp surgery when I first moved here last year, and she did admit that she mainly deals with type 2's but I was welcome to see her if I liked or needed anything.

I've never had my injection sites checked, I am going to ask next time I go, I have felt them myself but can't feel any lumps or anything, but do have alot of scar tissue so isn't the easiest to feel.
 
Sugarbum said:
I have never seen anyone, but in my clinic there is a foot clinic! And it always looks busy so I dont know if I should have darkened their door or not. No foot problems at present though.

Its funny what you learn though, I heard in DAFNE that my injection sites should be checked by the doctor every six months for lumps (of what? 😉) and to this day no-one has ever (dared to) ask. Odd.
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Hi Sugarbum

You really need to see a specialist foot person if you are diabetic. It should all be part of an annual check (so many hospitals don't bother with annual checks though which is disgusting). 70% of amputee clinics are people with diabetes - sorry thought scare tactics might help you with this one. Our local fishmonger is in hospital as he had numb feet and didn't bother doing anything about it and got blisters which he didn't feel and is now in hospital. He has type 2 diabetes. I have no idea what will happen with him now. I hope he comes out with both feet and is ok and opens up his fishmongers I miss the seafood!

re the lumps. Some people suffer from lumps at injection sites. They are little tissue lumps (or muscle). This was described to my 8 year old by our wonderful DSN the other day. Because you are introducing something into the skin (the needle) a lot and it is not part of our body, our body doesn't like it and therefore forms a barrier in the form of a lump under the skin. If you carry on injecting in the same places and hit the lumps the insulin will not work as it is supposed. Levemir and Lantus actually sit under the skin and release slowly throughout the day, if they have a lump to go through, peaks and troughs all over the place.

Also if using Novorapid, you want it to work quickly, that is the whole point, if you hit a lump then it will release far too slowly and you will be higher than you should be.

Hope that explains lumps for you. You could check yourself rather than let the doctor.
 
Thanks Adrienne, I am in the clinic in May and will definately ask.

My clinic are very good about yearly retina pictures (on occassions I have actualy been 6 monthly as they will just do them with my doctor appointment) and what seems to be the mandatory yearly things but never feet.

I did actually have a problem last year (I know I said I didnt! Oh the thruth always comes out in the end!), thought I was numb in the feet on accassions, mostly when on the treadmill so I got sent for an EMG study which they guy doing it said was normal. Then, as per usual, another random doctor for my last appointment and he didnt discuss it (i didnt ask coz he was abit of a naff one). My dad had an amputation of his leg afew years ago as a result of diabetic neuropathy and I think becuase I look out for the symptoms, sometimes I can convince myself I actually have them.

But to cut a long story short, I will ask for a foot appointment next time Im in. Thanks.
 
This link should lead you to a summary of the footcare guidelines from NICE for Type 2 diabetics

http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG010quickrefguide.pdf

Can't see anything similar for Type 1's but it seems Type 2's are only entitled to a referral to NHS podiatry if their diabetic care team (whether GP or hospital based) detect increased risk or a foot care emergency. Our annual review should inclued the various pulse and sensation tests described earlier

Hope this helps
 
Reading these posts I realise how fortunate I've been both at the hospital and the surgery. I have a really great Nurse at the surgery who sees me or answers phone calls/emails immediately. I am about to have my second half hour full diabetic check with her (and I was only diagnosed in Nov last year) examining feet, discussing any problems, blood test results explained to me, reviewing my blood sugar level diary and reviewing my eye piccies.

My consultant has given me both his own direct line number at the Musgrove and his diabetic clinic line for reference if I fall above/below what he has told me should be my aimed at results and I really feel I'm being taken good care of.

I must have hit on a good team and I'm really thankful to them - long may it continue !
 
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