c peptide urine test may make diagnosis easier

Nice find - but - when I've asked about C Peptide tests in the past, all I get are blank stares (GP, DN and DS - none of them knew what it was!).

Let's hope this information get's properly distributed to those that need it.

If your GP, DN and DS don't know what a C-Peptide test is all about and why it is sometimes used you need to find some new HCP's !!!

Tried that - it got me referred to the Diabetes unit at my local hospital.

They are cr*p. They palm you of with a Diabtic Nurse as much as they can, and when you are so frustrated that you are at your wit's end, they'll "grant" you an "audience" with the Diabetic Dr.

And she is a dragon. She's got her guide lines, and she stick's to 'em.

My opinion is that the hospital I go to in Bristol does not treat the patiemt. My situation is not considered - the guidelines are followed, and that is that. If you don't follow that advice, they label you non-compliant, and don't take you seriously. Lo-Carb is a dirty word, and they ASSURE me that I NEED carbs in order to survive/function.

They can't WAIT to get you onto insulin. All roads lead to insulin.

Sorry to hear that Patch. Seems it's a Diabetic Clinic in name only........ The Patient seems an inconvenience. Not good.........

I suppose I am lucky. Where I am the Diabetic Clinic attached to my local Hospital is fantastic. I have never yet met a DSN or SDSN that hasn't treated me well and as an individual. They are all well versed on all matters and I can see and speak to my own SDSN whenever I wish, phone, e-mail, text or in person. I have often been fitted in between appointments. I usually see her every couple of months just for a chat.

The Endocrinologist I see regularly (at least every 3-4 months) is also a fantastic guy. He is very receptive to almost everything I talk about and many times we end up discussing drugs and effects or stupid things that have been said to Diabetic's by other HCP's. He also allows me to borrow books about Endocrinology and Diabetes in particular. More a chat than an appointment although he does eventually return to my ongoing treatment !! :lol: He too is accessible in the same way as the SDSN. He even phones to tell me when he is on holiday so I don't miss seeing him.

I couldn't have better treatment and care. It's a pity the treatment and care isn't the same everywhere.

I can totally empathise with Patch - my experience exactly..I was fortunate in that I knew it didn't have o be this way - it only became so bad when I moved house and was forced to change my GP.

My best friend regarding my diabetes treatment has been my eye surgeon who did not want to see all his good work wasted!

It is probably only people who have been diagnosed for some time and have been able o see the same HCP's who are in this fortunate position.

I Looking back over the last few years I can see that I have been "diverted" from seeing a GP when it might have been beneficial . Instead ,I have probably inadvertently wasted ime and money and deprived another patient of specialist care . I understand that DSN's are under pressure and are often left to carry out instructions which GPs are unwilling to implement themselves but it is very difficult for patients , who, by definition are ILL to fight the system.

Most will not even be aware of the problem as hey have known nothing else.

I'm a pretty well educated person wrt Diabetes. I'm sure they absolutely HATE people like me that don't follow whatever they tell me without doing my own research!

Unfortunately, we (those of us that don't follow blindly) are in the minority - and they can afford to pretty much ignore us.