Unhelpful advice.

[Lydia1960]

had to attend a meeting with a psychiatrist yesterday. I had requested that the depot they give me be reduced because it was making me tired and my legs stiff which was hampering my attempts at exercising which I need to do because I have a number of serious conditions that need to be kept under control, including type 2 diabetes.

This consultant suggested that my diabetes etc was already under good control according to recent blood tests. When I suggested that folks on here had advised me to buy a meter and strips to test my blood sugar, contrary to what my GP had advised, he asked whether I took the word of 'these people' over the qualified advice of a doctor. I told him that, like me, they were having to cope with this serious disease on a day to day basis and would know more about their bodies and condition than a mere doctor from a text book. This consultant just dismissed my words and my need to reduce the depot so I could exercise more easily and trod all over my attempts to speak up for myself.

Just would like to get a reaction as to what I should have said to this psychiatrist who is obviously more concerned about ticking boxes rather than hear the voice of his actual client...

 

[Bubbsie]

had to attend a meeting with a psychiatrist yesterday. I had requested that the depot they give me be reduced because it was making me tired and my legs stiff which was hampering my attempts at exercising which I need to do because I have a number of serious conditions that need to be kept under control, including type 2 diabetes.

This consultant suggested that my diabetes etc was already under good control according to recent blood tests. When I suggested that folks on here had advised me to buy a meter and strips to test my blood sugar, contrary to what my GP had advised, he asked whether I took the word of 'these people' over the qualified advice of a doctor. I told him that, like me, they were having to cope with this serious disease on a day to day basis and would know more about their bodies and condition than a mere doctor from a text book. This consultant just dismissed my words and my need to reduce the depot so I could exercise more easily and trod all over my attempts to speak up for myself.

Just would like to get a reaction as to what I should have said to this psychiatrist who is obviously more concerned about ticking boxes rather than hear the voice of his actual client...

Lydia...good for you for speaking up for yourself (and other diabetics here indirectly)...I agree with all you have said about testing ...like you I was advised by several health care 'professionals not to test...I accepted that initially...once I joined the forum...gained some experience I realised that testing for me was essential in the control/management of my diabetes...I cannot give you ny advice on the need/want to reduce the depot...no experience with that...shamefully ignorant TBH...however it's not too late to address your concerns to the consultant in question...are you able to address this with your GP practice...tell them how your concerns were dismissed...you could also write to your consultant...make the same concerns known to him...sending a copy to your GP...what often concerns me is how some appointments/consultations are written up...recorded on our patient notes...often they are not representative of what was actually said/done...if you can put your difficulties in writing...then we can all be clear about who said what to whom...good luck...keep us updated.

 

[Jade]

Hi
You could get yourself an advocate to support you at meetings. I used to work as a mental health advocate and just being at meetings meant that doctors explained things in more detail, listened better and showed more concern. There will hopefully be an advocacy service in your area.

 

[Lilian]

When it was fashionable to give diabetics with type two diabetes testing meters and strips my GP insisted that I tested regularly. He said without testing it was like driving along the road without ever looking at the speedometer.

 

[mikeyB]

Having worked in psychiatry, the maintenance of depot injections isn't a matter of ticking boxes, and is certainly not a decision taken lightly, because of the inevitable side effects. For this reason, I don't think better advocacy would really help. If the consultant thinks it is necessary, then unfortunately it likely is.

That said, what most psychiatrists know about diabetes could be written on the back of a stamp.

 

[Lydia1960]

Thanks for your support. I have already made a complaint about this consultant. I believe I have been misdiagnosed and the fact that almost everything I say is translated into something other than the words I am using, just so they conform with how this consultant expects me to be behaving or thinking is really frustrating to me and is ongoing. Yes, I agree with you Jade, that an advocate would help the situation and I am looking into this. They would certainly ensure my voice was heard and heard accurately...