I am recently diagnosed and being monitored solely by my GP. I read on here that many of you have a Diabetes Nurse. I haven't been offered an appointment with a Diabetes Nurse, nor has there been any mention of one. I was thinking that perhaps due to Covid there were no resources to provide a Diabetes Nurse. Does everybody get input from a Diabetes Nurse? Any idea what the criteria is for being provided with one?
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Diabetes Nurse
- Thread starter Zambarau
- Start Date
Hi @Zambarau and welcome!
Like you, when first diagnosed I was seen only by my GP for several months. It wasn’t until about a year later that I saw the nurse, by which time I had non-diabetic numbers!
I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules and if you’re getting what you need from your GP, I wouldn’t worry. However your question makes me wonder whether there are things you’d like to discuss in more detail, in which case I’d suggest following up with your surgery.
What type of diabetes do you have and are you on insulin or other medication? That could make a difference too as there will be more need for input for anyone newly diagnosed and using insulin or other blood glucose lowering medication.
Like you, when first diagnosed I was seen only by my GP for several months. It wasn’t until about a year later that I saw the nurse, by which time I had non-diabetic numbers!
I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules and if you’re getting what you need from your GP, I wouldn’t worry. However your question makes me wonder whether there are things you’d like to discuss in more detail, in which case I’d suggest following up with your surgery.
What type of diabetes do you have and are you on insulin or other medication? That could make a difference too as there will be more need for input for anyone newly diagnosed and using insulin or other blood glucose lowering medication.
Similar here, to @Goonergal @Zambarau
dx and ages before i saw DN, and for me as T2D
it was really a check up.
foot test, weight height and a few tips on what to eat.
naïve i suspect to think it would be more informative & communicative,
But the checks are important.
i did however get put on a desmonds course, which i think should
be the first meeting after Dx., but it was ages before i got the appointment
By the time i had mine, i had been on here long enough to know more
then most in my Desmond course.inc course leaders i think.
i Mention Desmond's just as a point to be aware of once DN comes on scene,
(sure that too has been impacted by covid restriction)
for a T2D aware of the encyclopaedia of information on here.
it's best use was letting me see i wasn't alone in having this
Information from here gave me way more then i ever got from any HCP.
dx and ages before i saw DN, and for me as T2D
it was really a check up.
foot test, weight height and a few tips on what to eat.
naïve i suspect to think it would be more informative & communicative,
But the checks are important.
i did however get put on a desmonds course, which i think should
be the first meeting after Dx., but it was ages before i got the appointment
By the time i had mine, i had been on here long enough to know more
then most in my Desmond course.inc course leaders i think.
i Mention Desmond's just as a point to be aware of once DN comes on scene,
(sure that too has been impacted by covid restriction)
for a T2D aware of the encyclopaedia of information on here.
it's best use was letting me see i wasn't alone in having this
Information from here gave me way more then i ever got from any HCP.
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- Messages
- 4,145
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
It depends. I think these days most GP practices in the UK run their diabetic services through a specialist diabetic nurse, but a few do not. It's much cheaper for the practice to manage patients via a nurse rather than using GP time.
HSSS
Expert
Just to be different I’ve never seen a dr about my diabetes. Only a practice nurse (not even a real diabetes nurse as these are reserved for type 1 and those on insulin). I did get the referrals for foot and eye checks and a course that was useless as I’d already found this forum and the course encouraged me to quadruple my carbs and reverse my reversal 
Daibell
Master
For the first few years I was seen only by the GP but now I only see the DN and I must admit the nurse knows more about diabetes than the GPs and actually listens to me. It's important that the nurse is a nurse practitioner and can prescribe.
Wanderer89
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 60
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
I was initially signed up with a diabetes centre at a very young age. Missed appointments in my teenage years (stupid i know) I was soon off their list. I now have to go through my GP and get a referral to them that way. Much more hard work.
