A few questions I've been saving up

[RosieDred]

Hi all, I have a few random questions that I've been meaning to ask you all for a while.

1. I had my first appointment with the consultant last month, who had me do a blood test and urine test. I'm assuming he checked my hba1c (will be impressed if I've remember that right), which was 10.3 (that's bad I think) on diagnosis in November. Here comes the question ... Am I supposed/allowed to know the result? He didn't say anything about calling up for them or anything.

2. About 3 weeks before I was diagnosed I visited my gp for a few reasons. My massively swollen gums being one. He told me to stop using mouthwash as it's completely useless and swill my mouth with actimel every day. I was dubious but it really mDe a huge difference. Questions again ... Is actimel 'safe' for me to have now that I'm diabetic? My dsn just said it's one as long as it doesn't have too much sugar. I don't know how much is too much and neither did she.

3. Everybody keeps saying "ooh you'll have to look after your feet now that you're diabetic" ... What does this mean? I don't feel that I was engaging my feet in any risky behaviour before diagnosis so this puzzles me a bit. I know that diabetics can lose sensitivity in their feet so would then need to be careful but I have full feeling in mine.

4. The nurse checked for a pulse in my feet when I went for a check up. She spent about 2 minutes on my right foot but spend about 10 minutes looking for one of my left foot. Should I be concerned?

5. I definitely had a number 5 but I've forgotten it

Sorry this is so long, and thanks in advance for helping




Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[Hooked]

Hi all, I have a few random questions that I've been meaning to ask you all for a while.

1. I had my first appointment with the consultant last month, who had me do a blood test and urine test. I'm assuming he checked my hba1c (will be impressed if I've remember that right), which was 10.3 (that's bad I think) on diagnosis in November. Here comes the question ... Am I supposed/allowed to know the result? He didn't say anything about calling up for them or anything.

2. About 3 weeks before I was diagnosed I visited my gp for a few reasons. My massively swollen gums being one. He told me to stop using mouthwash as it's completely useless and swill my mouth with actimel every day. I was dubious but it really mDe a huge difference. Questions again ... Is actimel 'safe' for me to have now that I'm diabetic? My dsn just said it's one as long as it doesn't have too much sugar. I don't know how much is too much and neither did she.

3. Everybody keeps saying "ooh you'll have to look after your feet now that you're diabetic" ... What does this mean? I don't feel that I was engaging my feet in any risky behaviour before diagnosis so this puzzles me a bit. I know that diabetics can lose sensitivity in their feet so would then need to be careful but I have full feeling in mine.

4. The nurse checked for a pulse in my feet when I went for a check up. She spent about 2 minutes on my right foot but spend about 10 minutes looking for one of my left foot. Should I be concerned?

5. I definitely had a number 5 but I've forgotten it

Sorry this is so long, and thanks in advance for helping




Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

My consultant sends out a letter with details of the appointment and blood/urine results with it, usually over a month after the appointment. I THINK this is standard practice, but others will know better

Actimel will have sugars in it, not a good idea to be sloshing it round your teeth. If you have bother with your gums I'd recommend going to a dentist and ask their advice on mouthwash etc, rather than a GP. I find Corsodyl mouthwash great.

Check your feet after every bath/shower incase you have any problems with your feet that you may not have noticed. Keep nails trimmed and general good foot care as well as getting them checked at least once a year by the hospitals podiatrist. They will test for any loss of sensation or issues and can advise more on good foot care.

 

[AlexMBrennan]

1. I had my first appointment with the consultant last month, who had me do a blood test and urine test. I'm assuming he checked my hba1c (will be impressed if I've remember that right), which was 10.3 (that's bad I think) on diagnosis in November. Here comes the question ... Am I supposed/allowed to know the result? He didn't say anything about calling up for them or anything.

My consultant and GP surgery share relevant test results electronically; your mileage may vary.

3. Everybody keeps saying "ooh you'll have to look after your feet now that you're diabetic" ... What does this mean? I don't feel that I was engaging my feet in any risky behaviour before diagnosis so this puzzles me a bit. I know that diabetics can lose sensitivity in their feet so would then need to be careful but I have full feeling in mine.

Wear closed shoes all the time, check your shoes' interior before you put them on and inspect your feet for injury regularly (the point being that someone with advanced neuropathy wouldn't feel stepping on a pin, say, nor would they feel the wound getting infected).
If you have full sensation and no signs of neuropathy you might be able to take things a bit more lightly.

4. The nurse checked for a pulse in my feet when I went for a check up. She spent about 2 minutes on my right foot but spend about 10 minutes looking for one of my left foot. Should I be concerned?

Ideally she should have told you what she was doing, as well as about the outcome of that test but if you really want to guess thn it is possible that left foot had weaker circulation ("If these pulses are present, then there is no need to check the more proximal circula- tion, but if they are absent, then move to the popliteal and femoral areas to find out exactly where there is flow ")... or maybe the device was just acting up.

 

[Spiker]

You have a right to your results, they can't be withheld. Nor should the doctor want to withhold them, because the HBA1c is used to motivate you. You should get a full printout of all your tests every time they are done. If they don't provide this, ask. They can't refuse.

I don't think a little bit of sugar swilled in your gums is going to make much difference to anything. If your control was razor tight it might make a difference, but in the scheme of things it's not even a rounding error. It's very important to control gum disease as otherwise you will get unexplained high blood sugar from the gum disease which is much more of a problem than a teeny trace of sugar. But if they have a sugar free version maybe switch to that.

Yeah you do need to check your feet and look after them, because it's the first place the nerves may go (if they go, hopefully they won't) and then you can get really bad wounds starting there without you noticing. That's why a visual check is important. It's best to start the habit early, before you need it.