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Diabetes, Testing and Depression

M

mattzuma

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14
Hi all. Was diagnosed about 3 months a go, Type 2 - diet controlled.
I initially thought my experience with my "Care Team" was in isolation, however, reading the posts here suggest I am not on my own. My trouble is only with the nurse I see.

She does not want me to monitor my sugars at all and was annoyed when I took it on myself to buy my own meter and test strips " I have a degree in this you know" was her response.
In fact she doe not seem keen on me asking questions. I suffer from bi polar depression but manage this very well - I have to because I run my own business. On asking about advice on dealing with diabetes and depression she told me there is no link between them and that if it was a problem that I should deal with it myself. "We all get depressed - Just deal with it."

I understand that the luck of the draw has failed me here but I am somewhat frightened of making waves. As I suffer from depression I feel a complaint from me in this area will be seen as paranoia.

Has anyone had a similar experience themselves. :cry:
 
I have been lucky that my Dr's practice picked up on my depression.

I went on a "Desmond Day" a few weeks after being diagnosed. My DN arranged this for me.

They gave me a scoring tool leaflet to show how depressed you can get and when to seek advice.
It was a very good day with lots of good advice, although their diet choices where a little too carb laden :lol: , but they do have lots to offer.

Below is their web site link, and there is information about diabetes and depression on their web site.

http://www.desmond-project.org.uk/

Hope this helps
 
mattzuma said:
Hi all. Was diagnosed about 3 months a go, Type 2 - diet controlled.
I initially thought my experience with my "Care Team" was in isolation, however, reading the posts here suggest I am not on my own. My trouble is only with the nurse I see.

She does not want me to monitor my sugars at all and was annoyed when I took it on myself to buy my own meter and test strips " I have a degree in this you know" was her response.
In fact she doe not seem keen on me asking questions. I suffer from bi polar depression but manage this very well - I have to because I run my own business. On asking about advice on dealing with diabetes and depression she told me there is no link between them and that if it was a problem that I should deal with it myself. "We all get depressed - Just deal with it."

I understand that the luck of the draw has failed me here but I am somewhat frightened of making waves. As I suffer from depression I feel a complaint from me in this area will be seen as paranoia.

Has anyone had a similar experience themselves. :cry:
Click to expand...

Hi Mattzuma and welcome to the forum. :)

What you have endured seems to be fairly standard and the thought that a nurse can really think that a degree is an adequate tool for treating people is appalling. :shock:
A degree merely shows that the graduate has proved that they can study and retain knowledge to the level attained and unfortunately does not endow the graduate with practical skills or empathy! :roll:
What a pity that nursing is no longer as much of a vocation as it once was and to so many seems to be seen more as a means of just earning a living. :(

It would be a good idea to talk to your doctor about the depression side of things and get some support from that direction and I would ask for a Desmond course as it would seem to be helpful.

The problem that your nurse may have is that she may not know about your bi-polar and so the treatment she is programmed to give is not helpful since she is not programmed to consider "the whole person" and is just treating the diabetes disease". :roll:

Just keep in touch with those of us here who are keen to provide mutual support! Let us know how you get on. 8)
 
Hi mattzuma,
Your nurse doesn't seem to have a clue about diabetes or depression. To say that everyone suffers from depression and to deal with it is a ridiculous statement. She may have a degree but she needs one in common sense.
If you are concerned about making a complaint I would go and se your G.P. and explain how you feel and ask for some help. It should be there if you need it and I am sure your Dr. would be more than willing to advise. He/she must know about your depression because of your bipolar. More and more Drs are asking people with diabetes if they suffer from depression as it becomes clearer that the two are often linked and they have been asked to do this.
 
Hi Catherine,

What an awful nurse. I suffer with the depression also and i believe the two are definatly linked. I have good days and bad ones and believe it is all related to what i have eaten. Pasta strangely seems to be a complete no, no. This sends me down, whilst BG up. The thing i've found with depression is that some people - medical proffessionals included - not only have little understanding but also no time for it either. There is nothing worse than somebody saying pull yourself together is there.

I have been having depression meds on and off for about 5 years and I reckon I had the diabetes even back then.

I have found that people on Forums such as this are a far better source of knowledge and understanding than any of the proffessionals i have seen.

Keep posting and let us all know how you are feeling. Most of us do understand and are going through similar situations.

Carl
 
I am not bi-polar (that I know of!), but I have very recently been talking with my diabetic consultant about diabetes and depression. You may want to check out my recent post on this forum (called I'm in shock - please advise)

There is definitely a recognised link - that nurse doesn't have a clue.

Lucie
 
mattzuma
i don't suffer from it, but depression is VERY common in diabetes. My sweet DSN always asks me if I'm feling depressed. It's one of her "tick boxes" I think.
It sounds like your nurse has a degree in something else. Certainly not in Diabetes care. I'm not even sure such a degree exists. She probably has a general nursing degree. Qualifies her to take blood pressure and temperature, but not to change bed-linen.[that's advanced training, from what I've observed]
However
I too have a degree. It's in agricultural microbiology, but is evidence that 40 years ago, I could answer questions and solve problems. I still can, but all those stupid bacteria and fungi have changed their names and the varieties of wheat and barley I worked on are no-longer grown.
That, just to show that having a degree isn't always relevant. I would ask her about where she got her degree and what its actual title is.
Hana
 
hanadr said:
mattzuma

It sounds like your nurse has a degree in something else. Certainly not in Diabetes care. I'm not even sure such a degree exists. She probably has a general nursing degree. Qualifies her to take blood pressure and temperature, but not to change bed-linen.[that's advanced training, from what I've observe

Hana
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:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: I wish it was that simple Hana.
 
I like nurses in general. My wonderful niece in paticular who is serving with the army in Afghanistan at the moment, but I've had enough experience of them to know that as much as some are wonderful, some are absolutely useless. It's the same in every profession. A few are brilliant, most are adequate and a few are hopeless. I think it's called the "Bell Curve".
Hana
 
hanadr said:
I like nurses in general. My wonderful niece in paticular who is serving with the army in Afghanistan at the moment, but I've had enough experience of them to know that as much as some are wonderful, some are absolutely useless. It's the same in every profession. A few are brilliant, most are adequate and a few are hopeless. I think it's called the "Bell Curve".
Hana
Click to expand...

another priceless comment!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
When I was a lad, GP's and nurses were almost like Gods. They knew best, you never questioned them and you took whatever they prescribed to you without question or criticism.

We live in a different world now, thanks largely to the medium we are all indulging in right now; the internet.

The wealth of knowledge now available at our fingertips and literaly at the touch of a button has made us all far more informed, enlightened and BOLD.

Consign your nurse to Room 101 8)
 
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