Practice Nurses .... grrrrr

captainlynne

Well-Known Member
Messages
253
Went to see nurse this morning 'to see how I was getting on'.

Told her I was testing bg - didn't go down well. She was appalled at price for test strips, but did she say anything about prescription? Of course not. Said it wasn't necessary to test until further into the condition. When I pointed out NICE guidelines and various research papers - said she couldn't comment.

Then told her I was restricting carbs, as eating them raised BG levels.

So she came across the room in a 'let's talk to the poor little patient' attitude' and proceeded to tell me (again) how diabetes affects the body. :evil: Reminded her that it's me with the condition, and I need to be in control of it.

Asked how I can know what raises my levels if I'm not testing. Told they rely on HbA1c. Apparently when this was done a month or so ago (on diagnosis) it was 6.7, and cholesterol 5.2. They'll do another HbA1c in December. Think she was surprised I took out notebook and wrote results down :D

After 10 minutes of heated 'discussion' she took BP - needless to say, it was up. So she chatted for a few minutes and tried again. Showed error - twice :roll: . So tried other arm. Still elevated. Said I should do home BP readings - then I pointed out I'd already done that! She checked on the computer and said they were ok. Asked if I'd seen GP who specialises in diabetes - no. Will speak to him about BP. Told her I would ignore today's reading anyway - bound to be up after all that!

Says they'll see me in 3 months, and probably put me on Metformin. When I asked why, if I'm controlling levels with diet and exercise, said it would lower bg levels and help with weight loss :roll:

Am I being unreasonable in wanting to know why they want me to put chemicals into my body if I'm maintaining fairly decent levels without. Surely it should wait until later. (I showed her my bg levels, and she had to admit they were reasonable).

I'm getting an Abbott meter to replace the Accucheck Nano I'm using - only because the Accucheck strips are so expensive, and Abbott about half the price. Had hoped to get prescription from gp but the words 'head' and 'brick wall' spring to mind.

Sill, I have the retinal screening and a 'diabetes education course' to look forward to in December :roll:

Sorry for the rant. Think my BP is now near normal :D

And I'm normally such a nice, sweet person who never argues with anyone or loses her temper.

But she made me SO mad :evil:

Lynne
 

hanadr

Expert
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8,157
Dislikes
soaps on telly and people talking about the characters as if they were real.
Oh Dear!
Some are like that. Mine is an angel
Hana
 

IanD

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,429
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Carbohydrates
Went to see our practice nurse for a flu jab this morning. She apologised for not having the swine flu jab available. When I said "good" she said most of her patients felt like that.

She asked how I was & I explained about the success of my low carb diet - & rejecting the standard NHS/DUK/dietitian advice.

I pointed out that in the olden days they had to restrict carbs. (My mother cooked for a diabetic lady in the 30s.) She agreed that the diet plate & pyramid were wrong for diabetics - she restricts carbs & she is not diabetic.

We went on to discuss fats, & the falacious work that the present recommendations are based on. She didn't tell me off for enjoying butter & cheese - she couldn't as the results of the thorough heart etc checks I had as part of a research project show nothing to refer to the Dr. We agreed that the advice to restrict saturated fats & increase consumption of complex carbs has seen an increase in obesity & heart disease ....

She finished up wishing that dietary advice took into account the experience of patients. I wonder ... will she get into trouble when/if she starts recommending a reduced carb diet to diabetics ????

After about 15 minutes another flu jab patient arrived to end to the chat.
 

AndyR

Member
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10
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intolerant people, bigots
Sarah, my practice nurse is a darling ! But then so is my GP :D

Just a tip, I use an Abbot, but cannot get the strips from my GP any longer as the local trust will not allow them for T2, but I spoke to abbot, and they said that they charge registered diabetics around £14 for a pack of strips (50 I think), that is half what my local Lloyds chemist charge.

Just thought I would mensh :D
 

wallycorker

Well-Known Member
Messages
613
captainlynne said:
.....Asked how I can know what raises my levels if I'm not testing.....
Yes - exactly!
captainlynne said:
......Told they rely on HbA1c.....
Yes Lynne - to measure the inevitable with progression that they expect to come along Type 2s who "do not test" and "eat plenty of starchy carbohydrate".

They never expect your Type 2 condition to improve but luckily you know that improvement is an option! Show them what is possible!

Good luck and best wishes - John
 

hannurlouisex

Member
Messages
10
Dislikes
when my sugar goes high and being a pin cushion!!
my diabetic never gets back to me, i rang my nurse on the day of my operation as i was having a hypo and obviously i couldnt eat or drink. rang to see what she could suggest got back to me 6 months later asking what was up....

my diabetes doc is good though, she talks to you like you are human. which is always a good thing! :D