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Asking a doctor friend to write a prescription?

Maybe it would be worth starting a new thread on the type 1 forum. There maybe people there who could advise you. I hope you get sorted. It must be awful losing hypo awareness..I do wish you well though
 
wildfire said:
Its a minefield, for everyone. Yes I do need a doctor. We fell out over changing the insulin, he felt it would be detrimental to my long term health to go back to, as he sees it, an old style of insulin.
Finding a doctor who is open minded about using the animal insulins, how do I do this?
Click to expand...

You could try starting a thread on here, specifically for this topic? There are lots of T1s post, although it seems quiet tonight. Fairly regularly there are also posts by people changing clinics, so it does happen.

I hope you can find a way forward because to go on, unsupported by medical care, is certainly not ideal, nor is compromising your friendship with your GP friend by asking him/her to breach all sorts of rules - written or otherwise.
 
Can I just chime in here with - I have swapped back to levemir insulin
As the porcine insulin took too long onset time wise with me .
Left me too long in up to 5 hours of time with raised/spiked BG levels .
NOT good for my health at all .

Levemir is a basal backgrounder insulin .
With a much quicker 2 hour onset time .

Porcine insulin has a kick like a mule with hypo's .
Kicking in hard and fast ! Quite a dash/rush to treat these
in the past .
Levemir is much gentler with the hypo's I have experienced .

Why do you wish to return to animal insulin ?
Plus get a " doctor friend " to issue a script off record to you ?
Both are too risky and if done off record - very wrong also , is my opinion .
 
wildfire said:
Hi
Would it be legal to ask a friend who is a practising GP, to write a prescription for natural bovine lente insulin for me, although at the moment Im not his registered patient.
Still experiencing what seems like an inability to fall asleep at night and diminished awareness of becoming hypo, often getting readings of 3.9 before I feel hypo.
Click to expand...


If your getting hypo symptoms at 3.9 & below then that's normal, your concern would be if you weren't getting any at all.

As for getting another Dr to prescribe the insulin, that wouldn't be a good idea even if they could, if your gp has little knowledge of diabetes and how insulin works then you should ask them to refer you over to the care of the hospital diabetes clinic, they are more experienced at dealing with issues relating to insulin.

To stop your bg dropping over night you need to reduce your levemir dose, start off by reducing it by one unit and test and see how you get on, if need be reduce it again.

btw, are you a type 1 or type 2?
 
AndBreathe said:
You could try starting a thread on here, specifically for this topic? There are lots of T1s post, although it seems quiet tonight. Fairly regularly there are also posts by people changing clinics, so it does happen.

I hope you can find a way forward because to go on, unsupported by medical care, is certainly not ideal, nor is compromising your friendship with your GP friend by asking him/her to breach all sorts of rules - written or otherwise.
Click to expand...

About a week ago I did post asking whether there were recommended doctors interested in prescribing animal insulins. Could be I didnt ask the right questions. Maybe a better question to ask GP friend is would he recommend a GP with knowledge or interest in diabetes.
 
That question would certainly have fewer implications for all parties.

Where are you based in the UK?
 
noblehead said:
If your getting hypo symptoms at 3.9 & below then that's normal, your concern would be if you weren't getting any at all.

As for getting another Dr to prescribe the insulin, that wouldn't be a good idea even if they could, if your gp has little knowledge of diabetes and how insulin works then you should ask them to refer you over to the care of the hospital diabetes clinic, they are more experienced at dealing with issues relating to insulin.

To stop your bg dropping over night you need to reduce your levemir dose, start off by reducing it by one unit and test and see how you get on, if need be reduce it again.

btw, are you a type 1 or type 2?
Click to expand...


Type 1 on Humalog and Levemir, and find that a protein snack before bed helps keep bg stable overnight.
 
I've just been reading your other thread..

Why not start a thread asking if there are any posters in or around Edinburgh, and which hospitals they attend? Once they respond, you may be able to go to your own GP with a potential preference where you might like to be transferred. There are some incredibly knowledgeable people on here, from all over. I'm just not one of them!!

Failing that, then a chat with your GP has to be on the cards anyway, to ask him to help you find a way forward. When you go to him, it could be worthwhile booking a longer appointment to ensure you don't run out of time. It is in his interest that you are being confident in the care you are receiving.
 
How long have you been using Humalog and Levemir ?
 
wildfire said:
Type 1 on Humalog and Levemir, and find that a protein snack before bed helps keep bg stable overnight.
Click to expand...


Thanks, take a look at the following which explains how to do basal testing, if you get that right the fear of night-time hypo's will recede:

http://www.salforddiabetescare.co.uk/index2.php?nav_id=1007

As a type 1 you really should be referred over to the care of a hospital diabetes clinic, you will get more input and specialist advice there, once you do you can ask about going on a carb counting course such as DAFNE, the following is an on-line course similar to the DAFNE course:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/
 
AndBreathe said:
I've just been reading your other thread..

Why not start a thread asking if there are any posters in or around Edinburgh, and which hospitals they attend? Once they respond, you may be able to go to your own GP with a potential preference where you might like to be transferred. There are some incredibly knowledgeable people on here, from all over. I'm just not one of them!!

Failing that, then a chat with your GP has to be on the cards anyway, to ask him to help you find a way forward. When you go to him, it could be worthwhile booking a longer appointment to ensure you don't run out of time. It is in his interest that you are being confident in the care you are receiving.
Click to expand...

Brilliant idea, thats an excellent way forward.
 
noblehead said:
Thanks, take a look at the following which explains how to do basal testing, if you get that right the fear of night-time hypo's will recede:

http://www.salforddiabetescare.co.uk/index2.php?nav_id=1007

As a type 1 you really should be referred over to the care of a hospital diabetes clinic, you will get more input and specialist advice there, once you do you can ask about going on a carb counting course such as DAFNE, the following is an on-line course similar to the DAFNE course:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links.
 
Last question - why change from the Lantus to Levemir ?
You should be able to book a double appointment with your GP
to talk through more options for yourself .

I do this - when need more talk time with mine .
Try taking a list with you - all things written down to discuss
step by step .
Some GP's like this and see it as positive proactive .
 
anna29 said:
Last question - why change from the Lantus to Levemir ?
You should be able to book a double appointment with your GP
to talk through more options for yourself .

I do this - when need more talk time with mine .
Try taking a list with you - all things written down to discuss
step by step .
Some GP's like this and see it as positive proactive .
Click to expand...

Changed as my waking bg was always high on Lantus.
 
wildfire said:
Hi
Would it be legal to ask a friend who is a practising GP, to write a prescription for natural bovine lente insulin for me, although at the moment Im not his registered patient.
Still experiencing what seems like an inability to fall asleep at night and diminished awareness of becoming hypo, often getting readings of 3.9 before I feel hypo.
Click to expand...
3.9 is hypo so if you recognise a hypo at that level then you are fully hypo aware.
As to asking your GP friend to prescribe for you then I doubt he or she would be your friend for much longer as s/he would be struck off if you were not a patient of his/hers.
 
You really do need to discuss as much as you can with
your (registered) GP .
List the most obvious concerns down and show him them ?
Ask for a positive way forward too - for yourself .

Can you let us all know - what transpires ?
As will be rooting for you :)
 
CarbsRok said:
3.9 is hypo so if you recognise a hypo at that level then you are fully hypo aware.
As to asking your GP friend to prescribe for you then I doubt he or she would be your friend for much longer as s/he would be struck off if you were not a patient of his/hers.
Click to expand...

I used to get some signs of becoming hypo at about 5 and that early warning was useful. Until I posted the question and received good advice I was unsure whether you had to be a registered patient to receive prescribed advice.
 
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