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55yr old Newbie, stunned at NHS advice ...

I always go to liver when my Hb is down, you can chuck chicken livers in any mince dish and they just disappear (I do that with my grand kids) but personally I love liver, can think of nothing nicer than quickly fried lambs liver served with some lovely curly cabbage stir fried in butter! That should bet your anaemia on the right track!

As for handling your ill informed health care professionals, I lose the energy! I know that we should invest the time, energy and patience in educating them, but life’s too short!
 
Ferritin levels should be checked.. i didnt see any mention of this??
 
Bluetit1802 said:
So do you have your HbA1c test before or after you donate blood?
If you have it after the donation the results will be skewed.
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Hi @Bluetit1802
I have my HbA1c a week before donating blood - but I have to make sure I use my non-donating arm as the nurse always manages to bruise my arm and the blood service won't use the arm if it's already bruised. Last time I went, I had a bruise from the HbA1c on my right arm, the finger prick was done on my left hand and was border line so a sample had to be taken from my arm - but because it couldn't be from my donating left arm they had to use the already bruised right arm! I looked a real mess later that evening as I'm allergic to plasters so had bandages on both arms!
 
Polypsodd said:
Hi Folks, another shocked newbie,
Diagnosed around three weeks ago after being sacked by Blood Donation Service as I was anaemic. HbA1c = 57 (fasting).
Straight on Metformin 500mg, now 1g after two weeks.
GP clear the condition is established and irreversible.
Have found the website invaluable already, working my way through 'Blood Sugar 101' too.
Gone low carb immediately, need to lose around 2 stone +.
Had my first Diabetic clinic appointment with the nurse yesterday and wasn't too surprised at the dietary advice, ie I need carbs in my diet, which will largely be ignored, thanks to this site.

She directed me to Diabetes UK as THE site and source for reliable information!

Now, what actually left me speechless was her response to my question about my anaemia ...

Start eating breakfast cereals ! They're fortified with iron you know. Surely also fortified with a touch of sugar?

Absolutely no suggestion of monitoring BG, which I started immediately on diagnosis anyway.

Wondering what others do when attending appointments, do you bite your tongue or try to inform and educate your health care practitioner?

Thanks to all the contributors here, it's a fabulous, invaluable resource, helping me get to grips with my health ...
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In your shoes I would go and see another GP at your practice. Ask for more blood tests and Liver Function Tests. Diabetic Nurses, a can of worms in my experience so much conflicting advice. Good luck.
 
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