What Powers does the Diabetic Nurse Have?

[Nicknackwack]

Hi @Nicknackwack .

Interesting background story of your DX .

I hope things are moving in the right direction .

Marvelous stuff on your specialist.....well needed I suspect.

Just wondered if they are the GP designated one or from the hospital team ?

Very glad however they appeared for you.

Just trying to clarify if they are perhaps more highly trained then those more generally seeing gp patients, in light of your journey ?

And if not...,
.....how do I transfer to your GP....

Hi jjraak

To clarify …. my GP referred me to the DN specialist from a hospital team. My GP manages my meds but collaborates with the DN who fine tunes my treatment regime, so they communicate with each other which means I get the best of both. It means more frequent appointments with each - including communicating with me via email - but the upside is better monitoring. I’m then better informed which is another bonus.

In my experience, different medical departments have their own protocols & procedures & opinions and often fail to collaborate. Getting them to communicate with each other leads to better management of your condition. By reminding each party to send a communication after each appointment keeps the other informed. It’s not rocket science

 

[jjraak]

Hi jjraak

To clarify …. my GP referred me to the DN specialist from a hospital team. My GP manages my meds but collaborates with the DN who fine tunes my treatment regime, so they communicate with each other which means I get the best of both. It means more frequent appointments with each - including communicating with me via email - but the upside is better monitoring. I’m then better informed which is another bonus.

In my experience, different medical departments have their own protocols & procedures & opinions and often fail to collaborate. Getting them to communicate with each other leads to better management of your condition. By reminding each party to send a communication after each appointment keeps the other informed. It’s not rocket science

Thank you for the reply @Nicknackwack .
What a heartening tale ..bravo all round.

I tread carefully here, I am extremely pleased you got & get such good care.

And to say anything might seem churlish, and that's is not my intention, believe me.


But let me just say that given your particular circumstances, I think that level of care IS justified.

And while I would like it to be the same for all, perhaps it's not entirely feasible in a proper sharing of limited skills, resources or economically.

So while I am gladdened to hear how well your collaboration works, I fear that for others it falls way shorter.

Type 2 here, no previous underlying issues.
Central London surgery.

Told as almost a throw away line after some checks regarding a suspected heart issue (was a back / spine issue TG. )

I rarely see the same doctor twice...so a lot of my 10 minutes is finding out who I am, almost.

The DN has been 3 different people since I was DX , one year plus (covid) no visits at all were booked (understandably).

So there is little rapport, and it feels very much by the numbers, to fit everything in.

Certainly no discussion about what I might like or need.
Apart from my first visit where It turned rather frosty after my input.

I'm not a shrinking violet when it comes to speaking up, but I'm also pragmatic, and not one to really see docs unless very unwell.

I'm very aware that occasions such as this, people are pressed for time, but I also felt any diversion from the script was ignored AND unwelcome .

Similar of my Desmond's course. (See previous posts elsewhere)

Suffice to say, rather then spend my time discussing unpopular opinions repeatedly, I learnt to let the DN meets go to plan, ignore most of what they say & continue doing what I found actually works for ME.

It's just less stressful all round I find.


Is my experience more common, I think so, sadly.

Am I wrong in thinking that....
Won't be the first time .


Just to repeat, very pleased you got such good care, well targeted in my opinion.
Impractical for all maybe, but wouldn't it be marvellous.

Thank you for replying.
Hope everything keeps helping you work towards your goals.

Best wishes

 

[Koalajane]

And now you know : )) it's being tested to check your kidney function.

The dip wee test is to check if thetpre is any protein in the urine,
The kidney function test is a blood test

 

[Liam E]

The dip wee test is to check if thetpre is any protein in the urine,
The kidney function test is a blood test

Checking for protein in wee is a kidney test. They can also test wee for creatinine and more.

Blood tests can also cover serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and glomerual filtration rate.

So kidney tests are really either or both wee and blood depending on what the doctor orders.

 

[daffy1]

My DN was useless and just has a quick thru my results book and kept telling me to eat porridge and no matter how many times I told her my sugars would stay high all day she just kept on saying I was lying about what I was eating. But at last I’ve seen a diabetic doctor who has told me I’m insulin resistant and that levimer and gliclazide is not working, I also have have a fatty liver and kidney problems but all can be rectified with new regime . Ive a couple a months now on the new regime till it’s reviewed again.
If your not happy in any way with your treatment keep asking for a second opinion plus saying a urine test is for cholesterol, well they need reporting.

 

[LindiePops]

They DN told me the wee test was for cholesterol, so what's the wee test for then...

It's to check for protein in your urine.

 

[Lenny249]

I had my appointment with the DN and was very impressed with her knowledge and efficiency. On her scales I weighed 82 Kg. I told her that since my telephone conversation with the Dr I'd lost about a stone in weight. I told her that I felt that as my HbA1c figures were just above the threshold, I wouldn't want to go on medication, Metformin being the Dr's choice. I also said that I often skipped meals: breakfast, lunch and occasionally both. I never miss dinner (evening meal) and that to my knowledge Metformin had to be taken with meals and if that were the case it would force me to eat meals which I didn't want, especially as I'm trying to loose weight.

She said that a once-a-day dose of Metformin existed which was to be taken after dinner.

We agreed that I'll carry-on as I am, have another blood test 3 months from my last test on 19 Oct (HbA1c = 49) and book an appointment to see her one week after the test.

She took my blood pressure and gave me a double thumbs up on a reading of 120/80...... Usually when I take my blood pressure at home my second figure is often in the 50s, but she wasn't to know that!

She carried out a sole of the feet prick test; no problems there.

She rattled off the number of Type 2 cases at the surgery and said that since the pandemic cases had risen substantially. Certainly when the Dr phoned me and gave me the next available appointment date is was almost a month for the first available appointment with the DN.

Next step, stick to the pavements, blood test on 20 January, appointment with the DN and see where it goes from there.

 

[Lenny249]

Today I got the result of my Hba1c blood test which took place on 20 January, it's 38 and I'm pretty pleased with myself.

Pretty good IMO, I've cut back on carbs and gone for a walk almost every day (ice on the pavements permitting), November figure 129 miles. When first diagnosed on 26 Sep with a Hba1c figure of 50, I weighed about 13st 10 lbs on my bathroom scales. Today on the same scales I weigh about 11 st 4 lbs. I haven't yet had my de-briefing from the DN, that meeting is on 7 February.

 

[zand]

Today I got the result of my Hba1c blood test which took place on 20 January, it's 38 and I'm pretty pleased with myself.

Pretty good IMO, I've cut back on carbs and gone for a walk almost every day (ice on the pavements permitting), November figure 129 miles. When first diagnosed on 26 Sep with a Hba1c figure of 50, I weighed about 13st 10 lbs on my bathroom scales. Today on the same scales I weigh about 11 st 4 lbs. I haven't yet had my de-briefing from the DN, that meeting is on 7 February.

Brilliant! Keep up the good work.