Annual review

Sarah69 said:

I had my annual review today and during the brief appointment with a consultant not once was I given any results to the bloods that were taken. The consultant just said I couldn't continue with high bg levels. He suggested insulin but I refused, when I was on insulin before I gained lots of weight and I was constantly hungry. I said I have issues with food and no real appetite so he suggested a dietician I said I'd seen one in May this year. He then suggest I see a psychologist again so I agreed to that and he'll see me again in 6 months. I really felt uncomfortable at this appointment, I never see the same consultant twice so I can't build up any kind of rapport with them. Hopefully when I go back in 6 months it will be with someone else who I can talk to. I'm going to ring the clinic tomorrow and ask them to send out my results. They also tried to give me this new folder (I refused it) which has lots of diabetic info inside, it would be helpful if newly diagnosed but useless for me.

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Annual reviews I find them difficult because I have a better rapport with my GP than the diabetic nurses. Gp said the review is for you. It doesn't do much for me. The last diabetic nurse I didn't get on with. This time a different diabetic nurse . She surprised me asked the right questions on how insulin dose is calculated. However still tried to tick certain boxes. Thought I had nailed session ended up with another 3 monthly review. I always have a 3 monthly review including bloods by GP don't see the point in doubling up. It doesn't help definitely if you see a different person each time. Our medical clinic allows us to see all lab results online.Ask them if there is a similar option for you.

Sarah69 said:

I had my annual review today and during the brief appointment with a consultant not once was I given any results to the bloods that were taken. The consultant just said I couldn't continue with high bg levels. He suggested insulin but I refused, when I was on insulin before I gained lots of weight and I was constantly hungry. I said I have issues with food and no real appetite so he suggested a dietician I said I'd seen one in May this year. He then suggest I see a psychologist again so I agreed to that and he'll see me again in 6 months. I really felt uncomfortable at this appointment, I never see the same consultant twice so I can't build up any kind of rapport with them. Hopefully when I go back in 6 months it will be with someone else who I can talk to. I'm going to ring the clinic tomorrow and ask them to send out my results. They also tried to give me this new folder (I refused it) which has lots of diabetic info inside, it would be helpful if newly diagnosed but useless for me.

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That sounds very difficult and not at all helpful.

Sometimes the guidelines are changed , But I am sure we in This forum would know before most others . It is sad that you have such bad meetings around your diabetes . Have you tried writing down What exactly you would like them to do for you , Then you could hand that over next time you go there and in that way educate them .

Maybe someone in here could help you ?

In my homeland Denmark They now recomend that every diabetic also eat a handful of nuts daily .
If I have poor appetite I have found that Macadamia nuts always taste good even with nausea ....

What is your main problem with foods ?

Maybe They have exhausted the ways They can in fact help you like their system is right now and their official guidelines maybe haven't got any further help for People with food choice problems , after all their guidelines when it comes to food choices are already insufficient , when still recomending rather many carbs.

Sometimes the arrow end up pointing on onself as the only person that can do the job and the needed change .

How can They make you change food preferences ?

The only other alternative is probably insuline which I do understand you dont want . ... so the choice no matter if They behave kindly or not seems to be between those two choices : either a change of food kinds or added insulin

The suggestion of going to a psycologist is also a way to suggest help if your problem is after all also a mental one conserning foods and not feeling well or maybe having burn out . I dont know that only you do ... Just guessing you numbers are high even when you did not get them at the meeting, But maybe it does no difference to what suggestions they have in their toolbox .
As I see your situation there you unfortunately have hid their wall from which they dont seem to have more in their toolbox . Maybe you could be nurtured into eating others foods ?

Do you think it would help you to have more support in the daily life when it comes to food styles and food change. ?

Sarah69 said:

I had my annual review today and during the brief appointment with a consultant not once was I given any results to the bloods that were taken.

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Not wishing to sound unpleasant but why didn't you just ask?

You won't low carb and you won't have insulin and you won't accept a new diabetes folder and your BGs are too high. I'm not sure what you expected the consultant to do about this? He can't force you to look after yourself.

Sarah69 said:

It's not I won't low carb I just don't like a lot of the food that goes with that. I've been having food issues for a while now. I can eat ok when I'm out but when it comes to making food at home, once I've made it I just can't eat it. I've tried making food earlier then eating later but I still can't. I work in a hospital and the food there is absolutely disgusting, people have all sorts of strange mixtures e.g. Lasagne with mashed potato and vegetables, that is so gross. I also have to feed people and when they have odd mixtures like that it makes me feel sick. I have no idea why im like this but it's getting worse. When I'm cooking and something gets on my fingers like bake bean juice I have to rinse it off I can't beat it on me. I must rinse my hands at least 20 times when I'm cooking. I don't like food smells in the house, I cooked bacon last night and it smelt for ages making me feel sick. Nothing ever seems to taste right it all tastes bland. I'm the same with drinks too, I love tea but that seems to have a strange taste, so I can only drink a couple a day, same with coffee and the cordial I drink.

The folder is absolutely pointless in giving it to me, I've been diabetic 20 years, my mum has 1 of these folders I've looked at it and it's just totally pointless. For a new diabetic there's plenty of information in it so would be of help.

I don't want to go on insulin because I put on loads of weight and I was constantly hungry all the time.

I did not like the consultant so didn't want to discuss anything with him really.

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That does sound horrible - so maybe and being a bit radical you should try to eat things that do not need cooking at least for a while until you get your appetite up and your BG down.
Nuts are a great idea - since I discovered almonds I no longer feel the need to eat breakfast or lunch - very sustaining, low carbs, right kind of fats.
Then salads - why not? And get some pre-cooked chicken or hams from the counters perhaps - I would prefer to cook my own but given where you are with food and looking to make some compromises and adjustments why not. Fresh pre-poached salmon, tins of fish...

You do not need pasta, rice, potato, baked beans or any of those things that need warming up.
Boiled eggs do not smell - great source of protein in fact - for a short while you could live off of them.
Then fasting - pick days when you are working to simply not ear - just have some tea and some water.

In three months you might find your BG is down maybe and you feel better about everything. Just options might not work for you understand that.

Sarah69 said:

I had my annual review today and during the brief appointment with a consultant not once was I given any results to the bloods that were taken. The consultant just said I couldn't continue with high bg levels. He suggested insulin but I refused, when I was on insulin before I gained lots of weight and I was constantly hungry. I said I have issues with food and no real appetite so he suggested a dietician I said I'd seen one in May this year. He then suggest I see a psychologist again so I agreed to that and he'll see me again in 6 months. I really felt uncomfortable at this appointment, I never see the same consultant twice so I can't build up any kind of rapport with them. Hopefully when I go back in 6 months it will be with someone else who I can talk to. I'm going to ring the clinic tomorrow and ask them to send out my results. They also tried to give me this new folder (I refused it) which has lots of diabetic info inside, it would be helpful if newly diagnosed but useless for me.

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If youre seeing a consultant, then it sounds like you are under a hospital diabetes team rather than being managed at primary care level?
I am also under a hospital team, although I guess different area might have slightly different ways of organising their teams- In my area teams are consultant endocrinologist led but have doctors at different stages of their journey to consultant level as well as nurses etc within them as well as the consultant lead. I am used to seeing registrars instead of the consultant If I come up against things in a consultation that dont make sense or that I strongly disagree with, then I ask to see the consultant for a second opinion. In the NHS the system is also that the GP will receive a letter from the hospital detailing the outcome of the consultation, blood results etc. As patients we are entitled to copies of those letters but usually have to ask

Sarah69 said:

I don't want to go on insulin because I put on loads of weight and I was constantly hungry all the time.

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Insulin only makes you put on weight if you are eating the wrong foods. It's those wrong foods that are making you feel hungry too. Insulin is the good guy in all of this, there to help you. In your position I would rather put on a lot of weight than run high BGs. At the moment the glucose is staying in your system and not being used and therefore is doing damage to your organs. The insulin will help your body use the glucose and help your organs. It's a no brainer for me, until you have had a successful psychology appointment you need insulin.