Anyone fed up of every ailment being put down to being Diabetic?

[Buxton1998]

Hi, just wondering how many people are fed up with every ailment being assigned to the'its because you diabetic' diagnosis, I ask because I had major abdominal surgery that was done as an emergency, I had gangrene, necrosis and organs were all stuck together, prior to this I was working a physically demanding job, since the surgery, in fact within days of being up and about I became very dizzy on standing and eventually after months was diagnosed with Autonomic Neuropathy, and was told it was because I was diabetic, even though I've read numerous reports that surgery is a cause, any thoughts?

 

[CollieBoy]

Yep, I'm tempted to tell my GP i've grown an extra testicle, to see if he blamed it on diabetes

 

[Bluemarine Josephine]

Oh honestly, the part of “it’s because you are a diabetic” is the best part for me.
Prior to my diabetes, I was always so mild and accepting, so silent and withdrawn.
Never complaining, always feeling satisfied with what I received.
Always wanting to be remembered as pleasant.

As soon as I got diabetes, I got the excuse I have been waiting for all my life!
I openly say what I feel. I don’t hold back. I care for myself more than I do for others and I don’t feel guilty about it. I always (Always) keep the best part of the lamb for me (instead of serving it to others). If something displeases me then, I say it. If something isn’t good enough, I say it. If people aren’t good with me you bet I say it.

I have no excuses for others while I provide excuses for myself (It used to be the other way around all my life).
I am grumpy. I am demanding. I am guilt-free.
And people whisper ‘Oh she was such a lovely girl…It’s because of her diabetes.”

I know that the above is completely off your subject but, our diabetes will always be the reason… it is everyone’s convenient excuse (physicians, peers, friends, relatives… you name it.)
Even if it rains in Tibet tonight, it will be because of our diabetes…

Because I am woman, I am actually used to this notion.
Prior my diabetes, when someone wanted to blame something it was hormones or PMS.

If it is going to be diabetes, use it to your liking.

Regards and compassionate hugs
Josephine

 

[JenniferW]

Well, I've just had my first foot check-up and had the opposite response. I've had patches on the bottom of my big toes which I'd describe as feeling dead, and the tendency for my heels to crack was what made them start testing my blood glucose levels almost 10 years ago. The podiatrist wondered if I might actually have a trapped nerve causing the deadness in the big toes (which seems to get worse with longer walks). And for the heel cracks, although T2 might mean they're slower to heal when they appear, she talked me through a whole range of other possible causes and what treatments so far seem to be the most effective.

 

[Buxton1998]

Oh honestly, the part of “it’s because you are a diabetic” is the best part for me.
Prior to my diabetes, I was always so mild and accepting, so silent and withdrawn.
Never complaining, always feeling satisfied with what I received.
Always wanting to be remembered as pleasant.

As soon as I got diabetes, I got the excuse I have been waiting for all my life!
I openly say what I feel. I don’t hold back. I care for myself more than I do for others and I don’t feel guilty about it. I always (Always) keep the best part of the lamb for me (instead of serving it to others). If something displeases me then, I say it. If something isn’t good enough, I say it. If people aren’t good with me you bet I say it.

I have no excuses for others while I provide excuses for myself (It used to be the other way around all my life).
I am grumpy. I am demanding. I am guilt-free.
And people whisper ‘Oh she was such a lovely girl…It’s because of her diabetes.”

I know that the above is completely off your subject but, our diabetes will always be the reason… it is everyone’s convenient excuse (physicians, peers, friends, relatives… you name it.)
Even if it rains in Tibet tonight, it will be because of our diabetes…

Because I am woman, I am actually used to this notion.
Prior my diabetes, when someone wanted to blame something it was hormones or PMS.

If it is going to be diabetes, use it to your liking.

Regards and compassionate hugs
Josephine

Go girl! I'm liking that attitude, I just find I'm fighting all these dr's who are telling me it's cos you're diabetic! And I know it's not, just feeling downhearted at moment. Thanks x

 

[Heathero]

Had the same answers for years from GP till I told him I was fed up of every physical ailment having the same answer (eventually getting investigations done for woman's probs ). Diabetes blamed on Aching limbs, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, painful joints etc. All of which I live with.

 

[Buxton1998]

Had the same answers for years from GP till I told him I was fed up of every physical ailment having the same answer (eventually getting investigations done for woman's probs ). Diabetes blamed on Aching limbs, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, painful joints etc. All of which I live with.

yep, I used to have a brilliant GP up till July, who was knowledgeable and listened, but he retired and now I can't find a decent one at my surgery and my Diabetic consultant has now been sidelined in theNHS management system leaving a much junior one, who says its diabetes!!!!!!

 

[tim2000s]

And they don't understand why people go on line and seek help in forums such as this one. Who'd have thought?

 

[Buxton1998]

And they don't understand why people go on line and seek help in forums such as this one. Who'd have thought?

I actually think we're more knowledgable than the docs, and forums are invaluable, as a way of talking and finding out different ways and means of dealing!

 

[Jaylee]

Playing devil's advocate..

Let's not forget the "well he/she's old" explaination for anyone eligible for a bus pass..!!

 

[tigerlily72]

Playing devil's advocate..

Let's not forget the "well he/she's old" explaination for anyone eligible for a bus pass..!!

My husband (who isn't diabetic) got this from our previous Dr who has now retired thankfully. This would have been around 2 or so years ago and he just informed hubby "well, it's your age . . .". when he went to see him

How old is hubby? Well, he's only 50 years old. Our new Dr who took over his patient list is much more effective. So much so that hubby had an xray organised with the local hospital within a week of seeing her which led to a diagnosis of arthritis in one of his knees. The previous GP would have just sent him away and told him to take over the counter painkillers!

Sorry, off topic a bit but it is frustrating when you're told "it's your age", "you're a woman" etc etc. People get sick and get conditions which may be linked to something else but it isn't always the case!

 

[Buxton1998]

That's the other thing, I've been pumped up with steroids, and as a consequence I've put on weight, that's due to my age and being a woman, not because I've been given mega doses of steroids and not able to excercise as much due to the surgery!

 

[Bluemarine Josephine]

That's the other thing, I've been pumped up with steroids, and as a consequence I've put on weight, that's due to my age and being a woman, not because I've been given mega doses of steroids and not able to excercise as much due to the surgery!

What i always say to them is this: I do not have high blood sugar because I have a bad gene. I have high blood sugar because my doctor does not know how to manage my diabetes. If he did know, I wouldn't have a problem. Likewise, you do not have the issues you describe because you have diabetes. You have them because they, probably, have not administered the correct treatment for your case and they prefer to blame your diabetes by using it as an escape goat for everything that happens to you.

We know it; they know it. But it suits them to state otherwise.

I hear about people suffering strokes and heart attacks and they do not have diabetes. They do not smoke or drink... What is the physicians excuse in such cases?

 

[pinewood]

It's sad but in a day and age when our GPs literally have 3-5 minutes to hear us and diagnose the problem it's all too easy for them to see diabetes on our notes and blame it on that to get rid of us.

I had a bad foot from a running injury that a GP at my practice blamed on my T1 regardless of the fact I had only been diabetic for 6 months and had extremely tight control.

I've basically given up now and just resort to Google and WebMD etc (and this forum of course for diabetes stuff) when I've got any ailment and then if think I need a prescription or further testing I'll make a GP appointment and basically do their job for them. Not being disrespectful or doubting their knowledge but my experiences have been quite shocking (especially with regards to my undiagnosed T1 which I was told was stress despite having every classic symptom in the book...stress/anxiety is another "blame it on that if we don't know/can't be bothered to find out"). Couldn't believe my GP wouldn't even do a finger prick test when I said I suspected diabetes - it was only after I bought ketostix myself from Boots and tested my urine myself that I was taken seriously and given a blood test! I feel lucky that we have such great resources online these days because I have next to no trust in my GPs.

 

[Buxton1998]

Have to say I research and go to GP if I need a prescription, you're right they have a couple of minutes and it's the easy option get out clause! I've been diagnosed with Autonomic Neuropathy and am seriously doubting I have this. I was saying to husband the other day, that the consultants and Dr's, don't listen to the whole picture they jump on one aspect and focus on that, I actually think I have fibromyalgia I have most of the symptons, but no one listening to me! At the end of the day we know our bodies best and know whether or not something is wrong. I feel I am better informed about diabetes than the average GP due to living with this!

 

[tim2000s]

@Buxton1998 - the main reason they will be pointing at Autonomic Neuropathy is that it is a recognised condition. Fibromyalgia isn't, in the UK at least.

 

[Buxton1998]

Tell me about it! I mooted it to Dr and he said ' we don't want to go that route, it's too difficult to diagnose' in the meantime I'm on a hefty dose of steroid, which I've discovered this week has caused osteoporosis, and I may have been taking it for no valid reason.

 

[JenniferW]

@Buxton1998 - ... a recognised condition. Fibromyalgia isn't, in the UK at least.

You could say a particular doctor doesn't believe fibromyalgia is the condition that someone has, but I don't think it's fair to say fibromyalgia's not a recognised condition in the UK.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Fibromyalgia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

 

[tim2000s]

You could say a particular doctor doesn't believe fibromyalgia is the condition that someone has, but I don't think it's fair to say fibromyalgia's not a recognised condition in the UK.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Fibromyalgia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Apologies, misinformation from me there then. Must just be at a GP level.

 

[JenniferW]

Apologies, misinformation from me there then. Must just be at a GP level.

As we all feel happens all too often?