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Annual review- what should have happened?

L

LouT

Well-Known Member
Messages
58
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I had my first annual review at the GP surgery today- it was done by a paramedic
No weight check, no foot check, no check of blood sugars, used the blood and urine tests results from August,
She told me I need to reduce my blood sugar levels, and loose weight, no repeat HBA1c until April 2027 so 8 months after my last one, the previous surgery was going 3 monthly as newly diagnosed,
She then prescribed Dapagliflozin 10mg tablets on top of the metformin, no real explanation yet my notes say she
  • Patient counselled on potential side-effects of medication
  • Patient advised re sick day rules (AcuuRx sick day rules)
  • 9 points of care for annual review outstanding - plan in place - no idea what the plan is
  • Education about ketoacidosis
  • Education about Fournier's gangrene
None of this was explained at the appointment other the it will make you wee more,

Best to say I won’t be starting it until it’s all explained
Should they not have got up to date blood results before starting a new medication?
I felt that really I wasted my time in attending the appointment and gain nothing from it or am I missing something
 
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Sorry to hear that. Good diabetes care does seem to be patchy across the country (from reading the stories on here) and you're not alone. I'm wondering if it was just a medication review? In any case you are right to make sure you get it all fully explained.

My first diabetes appointment back in 2020 was farcical so I haven't had one since. I just manage and monitor myself , but I'm not on meds.

I have just had an overall health check in person with the practice nurse - first time theyve seen me in the flesh since 2020. Think I must have ticked all the boxes because that was a good couple of months ago now and I've heard nothing since.

So as you can see, yours was not unusual and you're right to keep them on their toes. You could report your dissatisfaction formally, after all they'll probably send a "how did we do" message in the next few days. I'd reply to it
 
It was meant to be my first annual diabetes review I’m on metformin, I’m prescribed 2g a day but don’t tolerate it so only take 1g,
I’m just disappointed that didn’t seem to want to listen to what I had to say, and to turn round and say you need to loose weight, reduce your blood sugars without having up to date information and even when I offered it she said I have everything I need here on the screen - for starters my weight is from last October
I made sure she was aware that the weight is from last October and she just said she knew that,
 
This is what you should expect, some surgery’s do it a bit differently. Mine dies bloods, urine sample weight. Then I go for review where they go through all the results, questions and blood pressure & foot check

Diabetes health checks (annual review)

Diabetes can cause complications that can become serious. So having diabetes health checks are important. They can pick up health problems in the early stages so they can be monitored and treated.Diabetes health checks — known as your yearly or annual review — are part of your routine NHS...
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk
 
My checks are similar to Lovinglife’s, I have one appt where a health care assistant checks weight, BP, feet, urine sample and takes bloods. I then have a second appt. around a week later with diabetes nurse, GP or latterly with the surgery pharmacist to review results and discuss any changes needed. Around the same time I get sent an eye check appt. If I was in your position I most definitely wouldn’t take any new med based on out of date info.!

Edit to add urine test.
 
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I have the health check (weight, bloods, urine, feet) with a practice nurse, and then am usually asked to make an appointment for a phone consultation with one of the GPs at the practice to discuss my results. Last time I was most frustrated as all the results were on the NHS app except the one I most wanted to see, which was my HbAc1! But I have never seen a diabetic specialist nurse, and don't know whether they have one at the surgery.
 
I’ve contacted the practice to say I’m not happy to start the new medication and to request an appointment to carry out the missing checks and to get up to date bloods done, - no reply yet
My appointment was with a paramedic who is based at the surgery and I got feeling that she was reading off a script because she couldn’t or wouldn’t answer any questions I had, and just kept saying I’ve got everything here I need,
 
I hope they get back to you and do the job properly this time.
 
LouT said:
I had my first annual review at the GP surgery today- it was done by a paramedic
No weight check, no foot check, no check of blood sugars, used the blood and urine tests results from August,
She told me I need to reduce my blood sugar levels, and loose weight, no repeat HBA1c until April 2027 so 8 months after my last one, the previous surgery was going 3 monthly as newly diagnosed,
She then prescribed Dapagliflozin 10mg tablets on top of the metformin, no real explanation yet my notes say she
  • Patient counselled on potential side-effects of medication
  • Patient advised re sick day rules (AcuuRx sick day rules)
  • 9 points of care for annual review outstanding - plan in place - no idea what the plan is
  • Education about ketoacidosis
  • Education about Fournier's gangrene
None of this was explained at the appointment other the it will make you wee more,

Best to say I won’t be starting it until it’s all explained
Should they not have got up to date blood results before starting a new medication?
I felt that really I wasted my time in attending the appointment and gain nothing from it or am I missing something
Click to expand...
Think I’d book an appointment with your GP and chat about this.
 
I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes 2. I haven't seen a Dr, diabetic nurse all i had was a phone call to say I was being prescribed Metformin and to loose weight and 'tweek ' my diet.

I called the surgery to try and get an appt with the dr or diabetic nurse and was told that I could have a call with a pharmacist the receptionist said she's someone who knows about diabetes.

I have no idea if im actually doing anything right..they have given me nothing to check my bloods. No mention of diabetic eye tests or foot care. I didn't know anything about those until I started doing some research and found this forum.

I have a phone call scheduled for tomorrow with the pharmacist so going to see if I can get something to at least check my blood levels etc. And explain fasting levels etc x
 
bettyboo66 said:
I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes 2. I haven't seen a Dr, diabetic nurse all i had was a phone call to say I was being prescribed Metformin and to loose weight and 'tweek ' my diet.

I called the surgery to try and get an appt with the dr or diabetic nurse and was told that I could have a call with a pharmacist the receptionist said she's someone who knows about diabetes.

I have no idea if im actually doing anything right..they have given me nothing to check my bloods. No mention of diabetic eye tests or foot care. I didn't know anything about those until I started doing some research and found this forum.

I have a phone call scheduled for tomorrow with the pharmacist so going to see if I can get something to at least check my blood levels etc. And explain fasting levels etc x
Click to expand...
That's pretty much what happened to me, although they didn't tell me to lose weight or tweak my diet, just to take Metformin forever more!

You probably won't get any form of blood testing on the NHS, as you aren't on insulin; you'll probably be called for a checkup once a year, when they will check your weight and feet, and take blood and urine samples, and separately you may be called to a retinopathy screening clinic. But for now, take the Metformin and see how it goes! If it makes you really sick, there are alternatives, but they always try Metformin first as most people can tolerate it and it is cheap and effective! It certainly works for me.
 
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For those experiencing difficulties these are the latest N.I.C.E. Guidelines for those with & bring diagnosed with T2 - the latest update was February 2026 & it has very recently been reviewed with a look to updating them further. They are guidelines & not law but very very useful to quote to your GP/HCP if needed.

Overview | Type 2 diabetes in adults: management | Guidance | NICE

www.nice.org.uk www.nice.org.uk
 
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