Communication.

[APR1245]

I do not have any contact with a diabetic specialist at my surgery. I was diagnosed 3 years ago with Type 2 and am now on insulin twice a day following a hyper last year. Are there any help groups in the Dorset/ Hampshire area?

 

[Fenn]

Hi, when I was put on insulin, I was literally shown how to inject, told to increase it 2 units at a time until my numbers are good and that was it, I never heard a thing for years, no checks, no tests, nothing. I just got on with it, secretly happy to be left alone.

It was only when I visited doctor about something else, he asked me who is looking after my diabetes, “well no one” I reply. I have been told I had slipped through the cracks when the lady who gave me my insulin lost her job that same week. Since then I have been looked after very well, you could say too well, they drive me mad.

Maybe you too have slipped through the cracks? I don’t think they should be leaving you to just muddle through, can you contact them to ask?

 

[EllieM]

I do not have any contact with a diabetic specialist at my surgery. I was diagnosed 3 years ago with Type 2 and am now on insulin twice a day following a hyper last year. Are there any help groups in the Dorset/ Hampshire area?

That's quite early for a T2 to progress to insulin. I agree with @Fenn that you should see if you have been overlooked but it may also be worth asking for the T1/T2 tests as an early progression to insulin is a red flag for T1. You'd be on insulin either way but T1s generally get access to slightly better treatment and technologies than T2s. I can't help with local groups, but there are a number of courses (some online) to help T1s cope with insulin dosing, which might be useful to you.

Can I ask what kind of insulin you are taking? Are you on a fixed dose regime or do you have freedom to adjust your insulin to your food?

 

[APR1245]

That's quite early for a T2 to progress to insulin. I agree with @Fenn that you should see if you have been overlooked but it may also be worth asking for the T1/T2 tests as an early progression to insulin is a red flag for T1. You'd be on insulin either way but T1s generally get access to slightly better treatment and technologies than T2s. I can't help with local groups, but there are a number of courses (some online) to help T1s cope with insulin dosing, which might be useful to you.

Can I ask what kind of insulin you are taking? Are you on a fixed dose regime or do you have freedom to adjust your insulin to your food?

Because I had had no guidance I ended up in hospital with a hyper and blood sugars over 40! Since I came out of hospital I had great contact for a few weeks but since then - nothing. The diabetic nurse at my surgery has left and as yet has not been replaced.

I am taking Bolus am and pm with same dose each day (30 and 22).

 

[APR1245]

Because I had had no guidance I ended up in hospital in September last year with a hyper and bold sugars at over 40. After leaving hospital I had great contact for a few weeks but since then nothing! The diabetic nurse at my surgery has left and as yet not been replaced.
I am taking Bolus insulin with 30 in the morning and 22 in the evening.

 

[AndBreathe]

Because I had had no guidance I ended up in hospital in September last year with a hyper and bold sugars at over 40. After leaving hospital I had great contact for a few weeks but since then nothing! The diabetic nurse at my surgery has left and as yet not been replaced.
I am taking Bolus insulin with 30 in the morning and 22 in the evening.

Have you tried making an appointment with a doctor at your surgery? Someone should be looking after you and when it comes to brass tacks, the doctors are overall responsible and accountable.

In my experience the "diabetes experts" in the GP environment are rarely actually experts in diabetes and more like it is merely their job to run diabetes clinics and do diabetes reviews. Yes. Over time they'll pick up some gems but they are rarely what I would classify as an expert.