Re: Treatment since NHS Reforms Began
For What It's Worth:
I'm all for self-management. What are the tools we need for good self-management?
1) Information. There should be diabetes "classes" available, without charge, so the newly-diagnosed can get basic information. It's also helpful if there's a follow-up (intermediate? advanced?) class to provide more details, updates, answer questions that arise, etc. There used to be such a class - I don't know if there still is - but I know that our local one was cut from 12 sessions to 10 session to (last I heard) 6 sessions. This was laid to NHS cuts.
2) Diagnostics. That means HbA1c (at least twice per year, and quarterly is an even better way of tracking) and meters. It doesn't do any good to issue meters and not provide adequate supplies (sticks / jab cartridges). Equally, it doesn't do any good to tell people to buy their own. If I had the money to provide my own, I'd do so - and I'd have the latest type that could record the information directly into my computer. I'd have a spare in case one breaks. I'd make sure I always had plenty of supplies on hand, because I could purchase them at will. Since an HbA1c averages blood glucose for the previous 3 months, it doesn't tell you beans about the other nine months of the past year.
What it boils down to is - if they want us to self-manage, then they must provide the tools we need when we can't afford to buy them. And if they want to manage our care for us, then they have an ethical responsibility for due diligence with sufficient HbA1cs, test kits, diet counseling, fitness classes...
IMHO
[This is a long-winded way of saying - John, regardless who is in your local surgery, they should be paying attention. No matter what previous personnel did or didn't do, the current nurse is falling down on the job. I'd make an appointment with the GP and discuss these concerns. It may not get you anywhere, but at least you will know the surgery is aware of the situation and your experiences.]