Type 1 Has Anyone Else Had This Problem With Their Doctors And Dsn's

[teasytux]

Hey, so glad I'm not the only one that has diabetes blamed for everything!

I've been type 1 all but 1 year of my 47years. I gave up seeing my GP, sick of the constant, nothing I can do for you, its your diabetes speech from him! I see Diabetes consultant & nurse, well, when I can get appointments (currently none til further notice, advised by letter!) Hba1c 44\6.2 with little change. Not bad considering I'm riddled with very painful Neuropathy, Retinopathy etc..

If I really need to visit my GP surgery, which is very very rare now, I will not be fobbed off until I get somewhere. My old GP retired recently, yay!

Be persistent & good luck!

Regards Tux

 

[SimonCrox]

I have a friend who made the mistake of mentioning how a doctor mistreated her and made her angry. She is now labeled as being depressed. Everywhere she goes, no matter what the ailment, it is blamed on her being depressed. She cannot seem to escape it even though all she did was mention anger. She is not, and has never been diagnosed as, depressed.

I mentioned that I wake up because of back pains due to my weight and now, everywhere I go, I am mysteriously labeled as having sleep apnea. Unrelated ailments get blamed on having sleep apnea. An ingrown toenail: sleep apnea (I jest but still wonder...), There is a specific test and definition for sleep apnea and I have never had it or have been diagnosed for it. They ask about my snoring but I don't snore. They now ask about my breathing or heart problems when I sleep but I do not have breathing problems or heart problems when I sleep.

The questions are based only on the fact that I mentioned not being able to sleep because of back pain and someone somewhere checked off sleep apnea in a list. It may have been telephone jockey scheduling my appointment or the clerk preparing me for the interview with the doctor. It might have even been a student doctor in a meeting before I see the real doctor.

I am now incredibly reserved discussing anything or checking anything off on those lists they give you when you go in for a new ailment. It appears that the questions are intentionally vague so that they can have an escape they can use for diagnosing your ailment.

Herein lies one of the big problems with electronic transfer of medical records.

I wonder what would happen if a guy checks the entry for pregnancy problems or a woman indicates having erectile dysfunction or testicular pain.

You could ask to either see a specialist or have overnight pulse oximetry to see if you have sleep apnoea or not. There is an Epworth Score questionnaire which looks for likeliedhood of sleep apnoe, but is not at all diagnostic. If you did have sleep apnoea (as they keep telling you), then you should be considered for Bipap/CPAP treatment, but if not, then they should forget about it.
Best wishes.

 

[videoman]

Your lucky to see a GP within a fortnight, I am suppose to be under one GP because of me being a T1 for 55 years and then we were treated by the same GP and consultant at the hospital

 

[Denise49]

I have to say I have been lucky and have had good support from my doctor and diabetic nurse.
I am type 2 and controlling it with diet alone so this forum is invaluable to me.
My sugar level, at the moment stands as 43 and hopefully it is still falling. I see my nurse every 3 months and find her very supportive and knowledgeable. My doctor reviews my blood results before I see the nurse and makes suggestions to help me.
I can’t praise them enough.
So take heart your new doctor hopefully will be a good one.

 

[Rosetech]

I had one Dr who kept going on about my weight,diet losing limbs and kidney failure, that was encouraging plus she smoked like a chimney!
My latest Dr wanted to try me on new meds - he wanted me to increase my Lantus from 18 to 24, then Tresiba from 24 to 34. In both cases, I felt nauseous and sluggish and horrible, so I checked online and found the recommended dosage based on my weight (and found it was pretty close to my dosage) and at least I could function. I also found myself feeling "buzzed" and irritable so I gradually cut one med out altogether and then switched another from morning to evening and my numbers have dropped by 100!
Whenever I self medicate I do it gradually over a week to assess any changes + or - and so far have not had any problems. I have also started the Low Carb Program and keeping a food diary and recording my BS and weight. Its simple to use and I have found it helpful. Hope you find your way to better outcomes!

Best wishes for success on the low carb program. If for nothing but not being hungry all the time, it would be worthwhile. I've lost weight, reduced meds for prediabetes and blood pressure, recovered from longterm IBS on a self-designed low carb program -- I'm sure I'd have done better if I'd started with the Low Carb Program and all its support features.

 

[Daphne917]

Yes I have had this except in my case being T2 it's the weight that is blamed for absolutely everything.

With me it’s either my weight or my age

 

[dbr10]

With me it’s either my weight or my age

 

[KK123]

Pregnant?, yep, that'll be down to your diabetes!

 

[G7FPW]

My surgery is so preoccupied by the fact that I have COPD (and even that is questionable since I don't suffer the symptoms!) that everything from post-nasal drip to a sore finger is put down to the fact that I smoked!
I suspect they're getting irritated because, at age 75, I'm still healthy!
They do take my Diabetes T2 seriously, however, so I shouldn't complain (she said, tongue in cheek)!

 

[Circuspony]

I feel very, very lucky with my GP reading these threads. He did actually correctly diagnose me with late onset T1 when I saw him feeling thirsty and complaining of weight loss last year, but unfortunately listened to the practice nurse who was a "specialist" in diabetes who said I must be T2 due to age. He was pretty quick off the mark as soon as I said the meds weren't working, my BG was rising and I was starting to feel ill - A&E immediately. I am the only late onset T1 the practice have seen apparently, so I hope it raises awareness for other patients in the future.

Since then I have had really quick call backs whenever I've needed to speak to a GP, blood tests with the nurses have been booked in promptly (used to be a long wait for an appointment) and - touch wood - no problems with prescriptions. Not only have they not blamed everything on the diabetes, but they've gone out of their way to double check that there aren't any other underlying issues when I was ill earlier on in the year. I think there is a big flag on my record when the receptionists call it up on the screen that gets me premier service!!

 

[Jantib]

Been there and got the tee shirt years ago!
Because of DSN ignorance and stupidity I decided to keep my diabetes treatment with the diabetic clinic and my consultant. This has worked well and has been helpful.
BUT when the surgery decided I did not need more than 4 test strips per day I had to register an official complaint with the NHS.
One meeting with a surgery doctor and the practice manager restored a full level of test strips and the comment " you are doing better than most people who are T1 for over 55 years - we totally agree and support your testing requirements and your routine to control your BG.
The only thing I did not get was an apology and compensation for the self funded equipment/supplies that were then agreed in full.

Unfortunately everyone needs to assess their situation and act accordingly which does not say much for parts of the NHS / GP service - be aware and always insist on an explanation of the reason for any change in treatment and speak up if you do not understand or think it is wrong.
Never be afraid to ask for help from any source - the worst response you get is "we do not deal with that so you need to see #######" which can be helpful.

My current gripe is being told " I have prescribed some pills for that - please pick up at the dispensary" then be told that it will not be issued but you can go to a chemist and buy it. Awful when you are not told what to buy and then remember that T1 should get prescribed medicines free of charges.

I find the forum can be very helpful, informative and brilliantly helpful even if I do not totally agree!

 

[Jantib]

been type 1 since 1948. when we had glass syringes to boil and needles to sharpen. and went by how we felt. nothing high tech to help. But can agree on this subject now - YES I can definitely agree that it seems that if I was NOT a T1, there would be nothing wrong with me!!!!

Not so long since one doctor asked me to show how my FreeStyle Libre sensor works as not seen one !- And NO I am not allowed it on prescription in my area - told by consultant that it does not give accurate readiings - yet I have managed to get my HBa1C down since I have been using it. wonder why? Would not be without it now even though it costs an arm and a leg. It has been an amazing help.

 

[tizzy]

I had a row with one gp saying my symptoms were diabetes and I couldn’t have an emergency appointment I told her just because I was diabetic doesn’t stop me from getting other things I stomped off to a& e it was a chest and ear infection. I’m in another fix now keep getting blood and clots in my urine when tested no infection I asked it it could be my polycystitic kidneys or the fact that I have stage 2kidney disease to be told where did you get that idea from ,my last surgery told me I informed her ,your kidneys are working fine then oh wait it’s stage 3 kidney disease but your kidneys are fine .dont worry there is no swear word bad enough for the way I felt

 

[deekaycee]

Best wishes for success on the low carb program. If for nothing but not being hungry all the time, it would be worthwhile. I've lost weight, reduced meds for prediabetes and blood pressure, recovered from longterm IBS on a self-designed low carb program -- I'm sure I'd have done better if I'd started with the Low Carb Program and all its support features.

 

[deekaycee]

Thank you Rosetech. Congrats on your progress!