Well it would have been nice to have been told!

[Scandichic]

I have just visited my doc for the results of what I believed were my first hba1c since diagnosis. Apparently, my diabetes came to light in ......October 2013. My hba1c (didn't even know this had been done) was 62. The next one was even higher and my bs was 13! I did have blood tests but these were to do with my pneumonia or so I thought! How outrageous! Nobody at any point mentioned diabetes!! It was only because I couldn't shake cystitis and asked for some antibiotics that the doc did a pee test and said I might have diabetes! Fasting bloods (what I thought was my first hba1c ) confirmed it and the rest is history! The doc I saw was under the impression that I already knew! My hba1c reading is 42 which apparently is good for a diabetic and he is happy with my weight loss. He told me to attend the education program and by all means listen but told me that I was doing really well and that to just carry on low carbing!

 

[lessci]

I know how you feel, I had pre diabetic results on a regular blood test 3 years ago, but no one at the practice thought to tell me when I could do something about it. 2 years later after feeling **** for sometime but putting it down to overdoing it, my Mum picked up on my excessive thirst and did a finger prick test on me with a reading of 23.9!, I was soon at the GP's asking for a HbAc1 and being diagnosed. That was almost a year ago and the only time I've actually seen a GP was when they wanted to put me on statins, all of my contact has been with the DN, who very much tows the NHS line on carbs, so I generally tell her what she want to hear about my diet then do my own thing. Due back next week for my results from the last Ac1 and expecting her to change my meds again, but we shall see.

 

[Scandichic]

I know how you feel, I had pre diabetic results on a regular blood test 3 years ago, but no one at the practice thought to tell me when I could do something about it. 2 years later after feeling **** for sometime but putting it down to overdoing it, my Mum picked up on my excessive thirst and did a finger prick test on me with a reading of 23.9!, I was soon at the GP's asking for a HbAc1 and being diagnosed. That was almost a year ago and the only time I've actually seen a GP was when they wanted to put me on statins, all of my contact has been with the DN, who very much tows the NHS line on carbs, so I generally tell her what she want to hear about my diet then do my own thing. Due back next week for my results from the last Ac1 and expecting her to change my meds again, but we shall see.

I think it's negligent! I wasn't even prediabetic! As you say, if warned we would do something about it! Have you had your eye test? Do you get your meds free?

 

[Indy51]

I find this negligence absolutely shocking. Surely there is an official body you can complain to about this? Unbelievable incompetence doesn't begin to describe it

 

[Scandichic]

I find this negligence absolutely shocking. Surely there is an official body you can complain to about this? Unbelievable incompetence doesn't begin to describe it

It is fairly shocking. Think I'll be asking for Dr Mann from now on. It was quite nice to see someone who wasn't trying to usher me out the door as soon as I got in or started their sentence with " so, are you still on that silly diet then!"

 

[lessci]

I think it's negligent! I wasn't even prediabetic! As you say, if warned we would do something about it! Have you had your eye test? Do you get your meds free?

Going for my eye test on Saturday at my opticians as I got fed up of waiting for an appointment with the PCT (or whatever they are now), I actually prefer it as I don't need to take time off of work. Meds are free, but only because I knew to ask for the exemption forms when I was 1st diagnosed

 

[zand]

Yes Scandi, it's shocking. It happened to me too, several years ago. I had been to the doctor to say I had problems losing weight, she did blood tests and told me they were 'fine' . I did lots of reading and decided I ticked all the boxes for insulin resistance and fatty liver and started to work on those areas. 2 or 3 years later another doctor did tests and told me I had fatty liver, but it was better than last time I was tested. Now if the first doctor had bothered to tell me what was wrong I could have worked on that sooner. Instead of wasting my time doing loads of research to find out what the problem was, I could have gone straight to addressing the problem of fatty liver. If I had done so back then I may never have become diabetic.

 

[sanguine]

Unbelievable.

Apparently my last bloods prior to the recent ones were in 2008, when all was apparently 'normal'. I'm going to ask for a full printout of those next time I'm in to see exactly what they say.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

I did have blood tests but these were to do with my pneumonia or so I thought!

When you were being treated for pneumonia were you prescribed a corticosteroid such as prednisolone at all? The reason I ask is that it raises blood sugars and can cause T2 diabetes as it did to me, and as it raises blood sugars that may have accounted for you not being diagnosed diabetic sooner as it can mimic the symptoms.

Just a thought...

 

[Scandichic]

When you were being treated for pneumonia were you prescribed a corticosteroid such as prednisolone at all? The reason I ask is that it raises blood sugars and can cause T2 diabetes as it did to me, and as it raises blood sugars that may have accounted for you not being diagnosed diabetic sooner as it can mimic the symptoms.

Just a thought...

Thanks Sid,
I had read that pneumonia can bring it on. They tried me on 4 sets of drugs before it got cleared up. My bs was 13 on Dec 11th but when I rang for my test results I was told it was all fine! I can't remember the name of all the different meds. Just wish I'd insisted on Dr Mann. He's clearly fully booked for a reason. It was such a pleasure to speak to someone courteous! He didn't mock my diet, I felt like he was supportive and he's asked to see me in 3 months time for another hba1c test. I actually feel like someone cares!

 

[Sid Bonkers]

well at least you sound happier with your care now

 

[Kat100]

It is awful, and really bad practice, gp,s don't seem to be able to spot the symptoms of db , I had to ask for blood tests and really push for them , had so many symptoms they were all dismissed for so many years....it makes me very sad...the state of our health care services are very poor I believe .

( not all health care providers I need to add )

 

[andcol]

I have just visited my doc for the results of what I believed were my first hba1c since diagnosis. Apparently, my diabetes came to light in ......October 2013. My hba1c (didn't even know this had been done) was 62. The next one was even higher and my bs was 13! I did have blood tests but these were to do with my pneumonia or so I thought! How outrageous! Nobody at any point mentioned diabetes!! It was only because I couldn't shake cystitis and asked for some antibiotics that the doc did a pee test and said I might have diabetes! Fasting bloods (what I thought was my first hba1c ) confirmed it and the rest is history! The doc I saw was under the impression that I already knew! My hba1c reading is 42 which apparently is good for a diabetic and he is happy with my weight loss. He told me to attend the education program and by all means listen but told me that I was doing really well and that to just carry on low carbing!

Oh my that is appalling that they didn't follow up when they got the results the first time. Almost incompetent!

 

[Mothership]

My sister was diagnosed in October last year when she went into hospital for an op. When they tested her bs was 31.2. They said that her sugars have been increasing for a year, the doctor never told her this, no meds just diet. As a result she went straight onto insulin, was shown once how to test bs and how to inject. Finally saw a dn and doctor in March this year! And that was only after I nagged her band told her she needed some support other than me. Thankfully her sugar is now under control but very frightening at the time.

 

[Scandichic]

well at least you sound happier with your care now

I am. I saw him a couple of times when I had pneumonia but then kept having to have a different doctor . The dn at our clinic and I didn't see eye to eye on our first meeting so she referred me on to the hospital because I refused to eat starchy carbs. At the time I was in floods of tears as it was a week after I'd been diagnosed and then I'd gone hypo and my work had had a go at me and sent me home - mid hypo and I drove straight to the doctors not understanding what was happening. She said I couldn't have gone hypo as you can't on metformin. It went down hill from there. Obviously, you can go hypo on metformin - I know this as the NHS line sent an ambulance for me last Friday but the paramedic managed to raise my blood sugar by giving me honey and stabilising me. On the up side I have lost 1 stone 10lbs. Yay!

 

[Robbity]

Apparently I had and "unusual" blood test result in March last year, but I wasn't told about it until my next checkup in October, when my doctor wanted more blood tests to check things out, from which I was diagnosed at the end of November/beginning of December.

Robbity

 

[Scandichic]

Apparently I had and "unusual" blood test result in March last year, but I wasn't told about it until my next checkup in October, when my doctor wanted more blood tests to check things out, from which I was diagnosed at the end of November/beginning of December.

Robbity

That is outrageous! And I thought my doc was rubbish!

 

[semiphonic]

Incredibly incompetent 'healthcare', it's ridiculous (but sadly not surprising!) that the assumption was made that you'd been told about your blood tests. Assumption really is the mother of all **** ups!!

My hba1c reading is 42 which apparently is good for a diabetic

Wow Scandi, that is brilliant well done! If you had your first HbA1c now, you wouldn't be diabetic...

She said I couldn't have gone hypo as you can't on metformin.

The ignorance in this statement is staggering, particularly from a so called HCP, Metformin can't cause hypo's, but of course you can have a hypo

 

[Scandichic]

Incredibly incompetent 'healthcare', it's ridiculous (but sadly not surprising!) that the assumption was made that you'd been told about your blood tests. Assumption really is the mother of all **** ups!!



Wow Scandi, that is brilliant well done! If you had your first HbA1c now, you wouldn't be diabetic...



The ignorance in this statement is staggering, particularly from a so called HCP, Metformin can't cause hypo's, but of course you can have a hypo

When I got the hypo, I rang NHS health line but felt drowsy, couldn't finish sentences and felt very dizzy. Mu hubbie spoke to the lady, who sent an ambulance. The receptionist at the docs refused to give me an appointment the next day, despite the paramedic saying I needed to see doc to discuss lowering metformin. So rang dn at Hospital told me off for panicking unnecessarily and that 3.3 is normal- lol! Apparently this is why you need to eat more carbs and that was what we discussed when she saw me. Love it!

 

[Brunneria]

A good friend of mine was not told that she was showing the early signs of MS. She then spent years searching for increasingly alternate explanations for her weird symptoms.

20 years after that original diagnosis (which had never been passed on to her), she asked for a copy of her notes, and read it in black and white.

Her anger was like a hopeless black void. She was, by this time, unable to walk without a walker, in constant tingling pain, and virtually trapped in a tiny 2 story cottage. She told me that if she had known about the MS she would have planned for a much more comfortable old age, in a bungalow, minimal garden, better access.

Tragic.