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A real negative vibe at recent diabetes review

5degrees

5degrees

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Just thought I would give a real-life experience of getting a diabetes review at my local GP practice.

I provided a pee sample and also a undertook a blood test

Whilst I accept that it has been a while since my last review, my weight is 7KGs lower, blood-pressure lower (according to their own testing system it was 'ideal') and blood sugar was lower. Feet are in tremendous shape and I am having regular eye checkups. Now as I am 53 years old then I think I am not doing too bad!

However the clinician wades in saying my SlimFast shakes are bad news and high in sugar. I asked if that was the case or just a comment? They admitted they didnt know. I said 'well you have the internet, you tell me if they are high sugar'; ideally they want foods lower than 5g of sugar (as part of the carbohydrate), shakes are 7g so not massively high and as said my weight is pretty much a whole stone lower than my last review.

She then tries to put me on a statin for high cholesterol so I asked "is my cholesterol high" and she says 'no but we like to put all people with diabetes and on blood pressure medication on statins'. I really had to question this as it made no sense and seemed like a lazy treatment plan; I said "so you are giving me high cholesterol treatment medication when I don't need it". The nurse then backed off and told me to review in 6 months.

Cannot wait until I get the message through to review my last visit

It just appears to be wanting to guilt trip individuals, label people and give them blanket medication when not really needed and not exactly encouraging people to make better decisions. No wonder the view on diabetes reviews is that people dont want to attend them.
 
Hello and welcome, @5degrees .
Your post will resonate with many T2 members.
A positive, that I note from your review is that the HCP you saw seems to have a bit of understanding of low carb?


Edit to add
Not much of an understanding from HCP though. Just following the guidelines, as they have to.

Oh and well done on your weight loss and blood glucose reduction.
 
5degrees said:
Just thought I would give a real-life experience of getting a diabetes review at my local GP practice.

I provided a pee sample and also a undertook a blood test

Whilst I accept that it has been a while since my last review, my weight is 7KGs lower, blood-pressure lower (according to their own testing system it was 'ideal') and blood sugar was lower. Feet are in tremendous shape and I am having regular eye checkups. Now as I am 53 years old then I think I am not doing too bad!

However the clinician wades in saying my SlimFast shakes are bad news and high in sugar. I asked if that was the case or just a comment? They admitted they didnt know. I said 'well you have the internet, you tell me if they are high sugar'; ideally they want foods lower than 5g of sugar (as part of the carbohydrate), shakes are 7g so not massively high and as said my weight is pretty much a whole stone lower than my last review.

She then tries to put me on a statin for high cholesterol so I asked "is my cholesterol high" and she says 'no but we like to put all people with diabetes and on blood pressure medication on statins'. I really had to question this as it made no sense and seemed like a lazy treatment plan; I said "so you are giving me high cholesterol treatment medication when I don't need it". The nurse then backed off and told me to review in 6 months.

Cannot wait until I get the message through to review my last visit

It just appears to be wanting to guilt trip individuals, label people and give them blanket medication when not really needed and not exactly encouraging people to make better decisions. No wonder the view on diabetes reviews is that people dont want to attend them.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks
 
Wow, it sounded like a right tick box exercise without any thought beyond. I'm so sorry you had to experience that. Hope after you give feedback that the experience is better. :confused:
 
Sorry your review was less than perfect. You should be congratulated for your achievements not confronted with a tick box attitude. I’ve been lucky with my surgery, I’ve had reviews with GPs and nurses which were all a two way conversation about how I was doing. My last one was with a pharmacist, I suspect as so many type 2s being uncontrolled just need more meds added. I think I was a bit of an anomaly and he didn’t have much to say!
 
Had similar experience a few years back, young diabetic nurse giving me a lecture on the pitfalls of diabetes and put me on additional insulin, in the end I had to remind her been self managing my condition since before she was born and was fully aware of all the pitfalls. When I referred my experience to my Endocrenologist a month later he told me everything she had said was 10 years out of date and to ignore it. Still go by the guidance of my Endocrenologist.
 
George 8 said:
Had similar experience a few years back, young diabetic nurse giving me a lecture on the pitfalls of diabetes and put me on additional insulin, in the end I had to remind her been self managing my condition since before she was born and was fully aware of all the pitfalls. When I referred my experience to my Endocrenologist a month later he told me everything she had said was 10 years out of date and to ignore it. Still go by the guidance of my Endocrenologist.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks
 
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