Hi all, ive been diagnosed a good few months now. Ive been thorough a severe bout of depession after diagnosis and missed my first few apointments to diabetic specialists and have now been kicked off the program. Now im in a better place I want to learn more and look after myself. I just feel like they dont care. I go my g.p regulary but they havent got a clue, they actually gave me novarapid and lantis once but refused to give me needles to inject until the hospital said I needed them, I know right backwards I had given them 2 letters off the hospital aswell !!! Ive asked to be referred back to the specialist but everytime I recive the referal I dont recive the letter with the password on to book it. I feel like im going round in circles. Ive tried contacting the specialists directly but they say I need to be referred from my doctor. Whats my best option to get help, new doctors, self help ? Am I going to struggle for prescriptions during switching docs ? Anyone else had this problem with the referal system and passwords ?
Newly diagnosed help.
- Thread starter The Hectic Diabetic
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Hi there and welcome to the forum.
First I’ll tag @daisy1 for her useful info post.
Can you just clarify which type of diabetes you have? As advice will differ depending on type.
I think your first port of call at your GP’s is to see the Practice Manager as that’s a ridiculous situation to have insulin but no needles!
First I’ll tag @daisy1 for her useful info post.
Can you just clarify which type of diabetes you have? As advice will differ depending on type.
I think your first port of call at your GP’s is to see the Practice Manager as that’s a ridiculous situation to have insulin but no needles!
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mean people , gardening , dishonest people , and war.
why can't everyone get on........
hi there hectic
welcome to the forum....it sounds as though you are getting a right runaround
I woud perhaps start by ringing the hospital that you wish to be seen at and ask to speak to a dsn ( diabetic nurse)
I would then explain everything you have told us here to her
perhaps she may be able to unblock things for you
welcome to the forum....it sounds as though you are getting a right runaround
I woud perhaps start by ringing the hospital that you wish to be seen at and ask to speak to a dsn ( diabetic nurse)
I would then explain everything you have told us here to her
perhaps she may be able to unblock things for you
Last edited:
Thanks, im type 1. After a few complaints and 3 letters off the hospital I finaly had the needles put on my prescription but I was just using it as an example of how unorganized and hopless my doctors actually are. The diabetic nurse attends my local g.p once a month and I have spoken to her over the matter. Shes a lovely woman and continues to refer me over to the hospital but I never receive the password that comes seperate. I have rang up for it but apparently it can only be sent out on paper, which I never receive. Im very worried as they explained the seriousness of diabetes but left me to research and treat myself. Ive no clue of all the lingo you guys speak of, Basal bosal etc, and at the moment im on 3 units of nova rapid with meals and 12 units of lantis of a night. I contacted dsn and she explained I needed to get refered over to the specialists and a dietician and I should stick to my usual units until the specialists agree I can up them. As you can see im in a neverending circle over the diabetes specialists. I have upped my insulin myself to 8-12 units depending on the size of meal and 35 in the night, I feel so much better. Im sorry to waffle on but ive got so much going on in my head I dont know where to start.
I get a password sent to me if I agree to email communications. Can you ring them back and say postal only? They are obliged to do snail mail because not everyone is set up for email. Hopefully then you'll get a letter with an appointment time on it.
daisy1
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@The Hectic Diabetic
Hello and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
