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Advice please in dealing with gp, nurse, need a meter

J

joneb

Member
Messages
7
Location
Scotland
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I have been with my general practice since I was born. I'm 47. I'm very unhappy with my treatment over the last 4 months. First they refused to give me the flu jab though I have sleep apnea(before I was diagnosed with diabetes). I got the flu jab after when diagnosed with diabetes 2 months and a few weeks ago.. When the nurse was explaining diabetes she said I was borderline for a time but no one ever told me to give me a chance to avoid it. There were no witnesses to this discussion. Also the nurse commented she expected my metformin prescription would increase on seeing her in mid January. The nurse and the doctor refused to give me a blood glucose meter.

In the last 4 months have suffered from depression and anxiety (which I've had for years), been on sick, left one job, started another. I've been dealing with stress not too badly though. The thing is yesterday long before I started work, without concern for work, my anxiety levels began rising fast throughout the morning and early afternoon. By the time i got to work they were through the roof. Now I had no reason for this I could think off. Someone at work remarked it could be my sugar levels. I had taken my one metformin tab in the morning but I took another a few hours later anyway andI felt my anxiety coming down.

Now I'm angry I have been refused a meter especially when the nurse as good as said my levels would get worse (by saying she expected to have to increase my metformin) and left me to deal with that for 2 months. I don't know how to go forward with this practice or my health care. I don't want these people responsible to get away with their arraogance and neglect. I want a meter and prescription. Can anyone please help me as I only have so much metformin.
 
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First take a deep breath and try and calm down, stress will increase your blood sugar levels, it will also increase your blood pressure which will also contribute to your not feeling well.

Secondly, you have been diagnosed as borderline so you are not in danger of complications at the moment, occasional high blood sugar will not do any real harm, it comes from repeated high levels.

Only take the Metformin as prescribe, taking additional tables will do more harm than good, they do not act like insulin to actually drop the sugar levels, rather they help prevent your liver from being over enthusiastic and dumping more glucose into your blood stream anytime it things it is lower than it should be.

Unfortunately getting a glucose monitor from the NHS is nigh on impossible for type 2. My best suggestion is to buy your own, check on line and you will probably find one much cheaper than in a chemist (I use the Codefree meter bought off Amazon, normally reconned to be the cheapest for the strips which is really where the expense is)

I can understand that it is a hard diagnosis for anyone, and particularly bad for anyone prone to anxiety. There is plenty of advise on the forums about what to eat (seriously cut down or avoid anything sugary or carby), plenty of recipies and ideas of what to eat. you have to believe that you can control this condition and prove your nurse wrong by taking control. If you have a look through the threads you will find that many of us are partly at odds with our doctors or nurses but we do get by.
 
Hi joneb, welcome.

Sadly your treatment by the GP and DN is all too common. As Ruth says though, T2s do not generally get prescribed with a meter and strips, most of us have to buy our own and the SD Codefree is very popular.

But don't panic, the condition is manageable with diet and lifestyle changes. Do you know what your diagnosis blood glucose levels were?

Reducing carbs and eliminating sugar from the diet as far as possible is key. Have a read around and ask questions, you may find the thread linked in my signature below to be helpful.

Don't worry, many of us have learnt to ignore what our GPs and DNs say about diet and blow them out of the water with the results we achieve. That's fun. (Some are lucky enough to have more enlightened medical teams).
 
You only get a meter on the NHS if you are taking medication powerful enough that it might give you a hypo. I suppose you could look on the bright side and be happy that you are nowhere near the point where you need one. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't buy one and use it to learn as much as you can about sugar levels. It might come in handy later.

Metformin is not a powerful drug. Take it as directed but don't let it worry you at all. Things will not get suddenly worse if you run out and things will not vastly improve if you keep taking it. It is not a cause for worry.

Good luck. Read lots of posts on this board and you will see that things are not so bad.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum.

Yes, I agree with the others. Very very few Type 2's are prescribed meters and strips. We just buy our own, and I also have the Codefree. (cheaper from the supplier if you use the discount codes for extra strips, and you will need a lot of strips) http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/blood_glucose_monitor_testing.htm

Your nurse is only churning out the usual rubbish. Don't blame her. It's her training that is to blame. If you take this by the horns and use the excellent advice given on this forum, there is no reason why you will need extra medication in January. Many of us on the forum are diet only, no meds at all, and no need for them. This is because we have ignored the usual NHS advice to eat carbs with every meal, and lots of them. We have found diets to suit us, brought our blood sugar levels down along with our cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Don't panic, don't blame anyone, take deep breaths and baby steps. It will all fall into place. Just take your time and have a good browse round the forum, and by January you may have proved your nurse wrong.
 
Yes as others have said .. Your treatment is about what most of us experienced .. My Dn laughted at me when I asked about a meter and insisted I did not need to test ... Well ignored that advice.. Try to remember this is your body and diabites.. Research your subject .. Read these forums .. Purchase your own meter and don't stress .. I had the sleep apnea before I went onto the LCHF diet .. Lost 5st now .. Still a few more to loose .. I sleep great now .. So hope it helps for you ( not saying your over weight .. But I was )
Think of your diabetes as a life changer .. not all change is bad.
 
As the others have said, you usually only get a meter when you get to insulin or gliclazide so if you aren't lucky, go for the codefree and test your BGs and take your Diabetes in hand. Good Luck
 
Hi and welcome!

Others have given great information.

The only thing I can add is that metformin is a slow drug. It takes weeks to build to optimum effectiveness, and while it is important to take it consistently, taking a tablet in response to feeling like your blood sugar is high won't have a lowering effect. It doesn't work like that.

The best, most effective way of improving your blood glucose is by changing your diet to one that does not release too much glucose into the blood stream. And that means cutting down on foods such as sugar, bread (even wholemeal), rice (even brown), pasta (also brown) and potatoes and sweet fruits. Simply removing or reducing those foods will dramatically reduce your blood glucose.
 
Looking at this from the doctor's point of view [and that of those who fund the NHS], day to day glucometer readings are of little value in controlling most T2 diabetics.
The main testing that informs the doctor what is going on is the HbA1c.
Changes in HbA1c are of course delayed by some weeks and so it is the Diabetic nurse's job to explain this and reassure the patient.
 
Cap'n M said:
Looking at this from the doctor's point of view [and that of those who fund the NHS], day to day glucometer readings are of little value in controlling most T2 diabetics.
The main testing that informs the doctor what is going on is the HbA1c.
Changes in HbA1c are of course delayed by some weeks and so it is the Diabetic nurse's job to explain this and reassure the patient.
Click to expand...

I have found my meter to be the single most effective tool in controlling my blood glucose.
Without it I would have far higher BG (because it informs my food and portion choices)
And a higher HbA1c (which would lead to medication)
And I would have deteriorating BG levels.
It is only through the use of my meter that I remain diet and exercise controlled, with no diabetic medication.

It is a tragedy that doctors fail to see this.
Many type 2s are not interested in this level of self effort and control, but for those willing to do the work, doctors refusing to allow self testing is IMHO appalling.
 
Cap'n M said:
Looking at this from the doctor's point of view [and that of those who fund the NHS], day to day glucometer readings are of little value in controlling most T2 diabetics.
The main testing that informs the doctor what is going on is the HbA1c.
Changes in HbA1c are of course delayed by some weeks and so it is the Diabetic nurse's job to explain this and reassure the patient.
Click to expand...
Looking at it from the patient point of view, it's imperative to test. WE all fund the nhs. :mad:
 
Cap'n M said:
Looking at this from the doctor's point of view [and that of those who fund the NHS], day to day glucometer readings are of little value in controlling most T2 diabetics.
The main testing that informs the doctor what is going on is the HbA1c.
Changes in HbA1c are of course delayed by some weeks and so it is the Diabetic nurse's job to explain this and reassure the patient.
Click to expand...


Brunneria said:
I have found my meter to be the single most effective tool in controlling my blood glucose.
Without it I would have far higher BG (because it informs my food and portion choices)
And a higher HbA1c (which would lead to medication)
And I would have deteriorating BG levels.
It is only through the use of my meter that I remain diet and exercise controlled, with no diabetic medication.

It is a tragedy that doctors fail to see this.
Many type 2s are not interested in this level of self effort and control, but for those willing to do the work, doctors refusing to allow self testing is IMHO appalling.
Click to expand...

Nuthead said:
Looking at it from the patient point of view, it's imperative to test. WE all fund the nhs. :mad:
Click to expand...


I couldn't agree more. It's a no-brainer. How else do we learn which foods affect us most, and which we can eat and in what sized portions? It is essential, and because of my meter and regular testing before and after food I have been able to remain medication free, thus saving the NHS a lot of money. (and found an eating plan I can sustain)
 
Great advice from the lovely people here! Backup the meter, vital to give US control, definitely ignore the nhs carbs spiel- those of us who have dropped carbs have seen levels and weight drop (which the nhs staff then applaud in amazement!!) Keep posting here, keep asking and reading- so much advice, information and support!
 
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Cap'n M said:
Looking at this from the doctor's point of view [and that of those who fund the NHS], day to day glucometer readings are of little value in controlling most T2 diabetics.
The main testing that informs the doctor what is going on is the HbA1c.
Changes in HbA1c are of course delayed by some weeks and so it is the Diabetic nurse's job to explain this and reassure the patient.
Click to expand...
With the best wil in the world, the average GP doesn't understand the minutiae of T2 diabetes management and farms us off to his less qualified practice nurse!
While the HbA1c is important, it only shows a long term view and cannot show the lows & spikes which constitute the "tricky bits" of D.
Again WE fund the NHS, the Docs & bureaucrats only control the purse strings.
 
Cap'n M said:
Looking at this from the doctor's point of view [and that of those who fund the NHS], day to day glucometer readings are of little value in controlling most T2 diabetics.
The main testing that informs the doctor what is going on is the HbA1c.
Changes in HbA1c are of course delayed by some weeks and so it is the Diabetic nurse's job to explain this and reassure the patient.
Click to expand...

Only by paying attention to blood glaucometer readings will any diabetic understand how to best manage their personal circumstances. Personally, I found your post a real insult, and patronising.

@joneb - My suggestion would be you invest in your own health and buy a blood meter as soon as you can. It will be incredibly enlightening, and have far more potential impact on your blood scores than Metformin alone will.

I agree that in a perfect world, the NHS would provide us with the supplies we would like, but sadly, the NHS just can't underwrite those costs, and we have to decide how we best support ourselves.
 
yes very few type 2,s get issued with a meter and you will find here that many people have bought their own and buy strips
 
I am type 2 diabetic and I brought my own meter and strips. It's a great way to see what spikes your levels. Everyone is different .
Now since I choose to go on medication due to the tiredness I can get my testing strips free as well as any medication . I would buy a kit so you can adjust your diet. Good luck :-)
 
louch1 said:
I am type 2 diabetic and I brought my own meter and strips. It's a great way to see what spikes your levels. Everyone is different .
Now since I choose to go on medication due to the tiredness I can get my testing strips free as well as any medication . I would buy a kit so you can adjust your diet. Good luck :)
Click to expand...
how lucky you are .. my Dr would not give out test strips for T2's You must have one of the good ones
 
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