Changed my GP surgery

[Mottsy]

Hi all. I've been lurking for a while and haven't posted yet.
I was diagnosed with type 2 on 23 January this year.
I was so shocked I didn't make a note of the HBA1C level.
Doctor told me to book another blood test for a month later then book another appointment to discuss results. In mean time I was put on metformin twice a day.
That's where the trouble started. My old GP surgery wouldn't book a blood test 4 weeks in advance.
Eventually went to a walk in center and got blood taken.
Tried to make an appointment to see my doctor. I thought I could make notes of my HBC 1 A levels this time.
No, can't book an appointment to see a specific doctor in advance, have to call surgery at 8am.
Called next day at 8am eventually got through after 40 minutes. No that Doctor is part time and does not work today.
Called next day . Took 35 mins to get through, sorry that Doctor is doing the sit and wait clinic, you can't use that for a pre existing condition.
Tried again waited 45 mins for an answer. Asked why I wanted to see the doctor and I told them. The receptionist then told me my results were "normal". I asked what the level was but she could not go into details!
Is this normal? I've been with this surgery for more than 18 years but have now registered elsewhere.
Since being diagnosed, (thanks to this site), I got a meter and take my blood several times a day, and cut out virtually all carbs.
My blood glucose average for the last 7, 14 and 30 days is 5.4. My estimated HBA1C according to the app is 5.4%. My highest reading since being diagnosed is 6.5 and lowest is 4.3.
I wondering if I'm actually diabetic at all?

Sorry for the rant, it's just been so frustrating!

 

[Alexandra100]

Hi all. I've been lurking for a while and haven't posted yet.
I was diagnosed with type 2 on 23 January this year.
I was so shocked I didn't make a note of the HBA1C level.
Doctor told me to book another blood test for a month later then book another appointment to discuss results. In mean time I was put on metformin twice a day.
That's where the trouble started. My old GP surgery wouldn't book a blood test 4 weeks in advance.
Eventually went to a walk in center and got blood taken.
Tried to make an appointment to see my doctor. I thought I could make notes of my HBC 1 A levels this time.
No, can't book an appointment to see a specific doctor in advance, have to call surgery at 8am.
Called next day at 8am eventually got through after 40 minutes. No that Doctor is part time and does not work today.
Called next day . Took 35 mins to get through, sorry that Doctor is doing the sit and wait clinic, you can't use that for a pre existing condition.
Tried again waited 45 mins for an answer. Asked why I wanted to see the doctor and I told them. The receptionist then told me my results were "normal". I asked what the level was but she could not go into details!
Is this normal? I've been with this surgery for more than 18 years but have now registered elsewhere.
Since being diagnosed, (thanks to this site), I got a meter and take my blood several times a day, and cut out virtually all carbs.
My blood glucose average for the last 7, 14 and 30 days is 5.4. My estimated HBA1C according to the app is 5.4%. My highest reading since being diagnosed is 6.5 and lowest is 4.3.
I wondering if I'm actually diabetic at all?

Sorry for the rant, it's just been so frustrating!

Your results sound great to me.

To avoid the frustrations of having to ring up for results and appointments, ask your new GP to register you for online access. This is with something called "System Online" and everyone in the UK should be allowed to register for it. It is absolutely brilliant, as it lets you make appointments and order repeat prescriptions as well as seeing your results very quickly after tests. You can also go back years to see old test results.

I used to suffer just as you describe, having to ring up first thing in the morning for an appointment, struggling to get through, and in the end being told all the appointments had already been booked. Also the annoyance of receptionists who refused to divulge my results. Last night I decided I needed to see a GP, went online, and found every slot from 9am to 12 noon available as the appointments had been released at midnight. So I had the unheard of luxury of choosing my own time.

 

[DCUKMod]

Hi all. I've been lurking for a while and haven't posted yet.
I was diagnosed with type 2 on 23 January this year.
I was so shocked I didn't make a note of the HBA1C level.
Doctor told me to book another blood test for a month later then book another appointment to discuss results. In mean time I was put on metformin twice a day.
That's where the trouble started. My old GP surgery wouldn't book a blood test 4 weeks in advance.
Eventually went to a walk in center and got blood taken.
Tried to make an appointment to see my doctor. I thought I could make notes of my HBC 1 A levels this time.
No, can't book an appointment to see a specific doctor in advance, have to call surgery at 8am.
Called next day at 8am eventually got through after 40 minutes. No that Doctor is part time and does not work today.
Called next day . Took 35 mins to get through, sorry that Doctor is doing the sit and wait clinic, you can't use that for a pre existing condition.
Tried again waited 45 mins for an answer. Asked why I wanted to see the doctor and I told them. The receptionist then told me my results were "normal". I asked what the level was but she could not go into details!
Is this normal? I've been with this surgery for more than 18 years but have now registered elsewhere.
Since being diagnosed, (thanks to this site), I got a meter and take my blood several times a day, and cut out virtually all carbs.
My blood glucose average for the last 7, 14 and 30 days is 5.4. My estimated HBA1C according to the app is 5.4%. My highest reading since being diagnosed is 6.5 and lowest is 4.3.
I wondering if I'm actually diabetic at all?

Sorry for the rant, it's just been so frustrating!

Hi Mottsy - All surgeries operate a bit differently to one another. I must admit I always use the "local" (it's several miles away) hospital walk up blood test centre to have my bloods drawn as I just find it easier to go there than wait a while for a fasting appointment closer to home.

My surgery does a sit and wait clinic for urgent cases, but does allow forward booking of appoinments for more routine things. They also do telephone consultations.

Personally, I always use the telephone consultation route because they are usually available earlier than a face to face option. Obviously that's not goo for something like a rash, or anything requiring an examination, but to discuss something that's ongoing, it works a treat. The calls tend to be at the end of morning surgery, so anything after around 11-11:30. My GP will call on my landline or mobile, so it could be helpful for those who work some way away from their surgery.

To be fair, in the earlier days of diagnosis, your medics may want to be monitoring things like your blood pressure, and/or weight which would really need you to be in the room, but these days, my GP is happy to ask me how my BP is doing (and measure it once in a while when I'm there), and my weight is very stable.

Hopefully your experiences will be better with your new team.

 

[Rachox]

Hi Mottsy, you’ve been on Metformin and you’ve been eating low carb so looking at your current numbers you’ve got your diabetes under control, well done. I think you’re still diabetic but have achieved excellent control. You really need to find out what your original HbA1c was. If someone looked at my current HbA1c without knowing my history or the fact that I take Metformin and eat low carb, they would assume I’m not diabetic, but I am, just very well controlled.
I’m glad you’ve changed surgery I hope you have better luck with them. I second the suggestion to get on line access. My surgery uses Patient Access, I can book appointments, view results and order repeat prescriptions on line.

 

[Smallbrit]

Your results sound great to me.

To avoid the frustrations of having to ring up for results and appointments, ask your new GP to register you for online access. This is with something called "System Online" and everyone in the UK should be allowed to register for it. It is absolutely brilliant, as it lets you make appointments and order repeat prescriptions as well as seeing your results very quickly after tests. You can also go back years to see old test results.

I think this may be NHS England rather than the whole of the UK. I am in Wales and my doctors through NHS Wales offer something similar but minus the test results. Also surgeries can opt in/opt out from offering repeat prescriptions online.

 

[Bluetit1802]

To avoid the frustrations of having to ring up for results and appointments, ask your new GP to register you for online access. This is with something called "System Online" a

This is available in England only, and the "system on-line" is only 1 of several options that surgeries can use. My surgery uses Patient Access. I agree it is a wonderful facility.


@Mottsy You can still ring your previous surgery and ask for a print out of your blood tests if they have not been forwarded to your new surgery. If your surgery does not offer the test results online, print outs are essential if you want to know where you stand. It isn't just blood glucose, it is all the other things that are important for diabetics - cholesterol, lipids, kidney & liver functions etc.