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Diabetic Psychologist reviews

Fenn

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,405
Type of diabetes
Type 1.5
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi, been referred to diabetic psychologist today, I was given a choice because I didn’t much like the idea but was put under a bit of pressure to see this person so I agreed, what’s it all about? I am not the type to see a head doctor, did anyone try this and was it useful?

I was asked to do a questionnaire, question one, on a scale of 1-6 do you feel overwhelmed? I answered 1, question two, do you feel like you are failing, I answered 6. No more questions! Lol the shortest questionnaire in history? Did I push a certain button?lol

Thank you for any experience of this
 
Sorry Fenn, I have no experience of this but sometimes I wish I had. Out of curiosity which Health Board are you with?
 
Soplewis12 said:
Sorry Fenn, I have no experience of this but sometimes I wish I had. Out of curiosity which Health Board are you with?
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I am in Surrey, UK. Not sure exactly what the board would be called sorry.
 
I guess declaring you feel like you're completely failing is kind of a clear button...

I think it's wonderful that it's offered, and that there's some sort of screening as part of the diabetic check up.
 
Antje77 said:
I guess declaring you feel like you're completely failing is kind of a clear button...

I think it's wonderful that it's offered, and that there's some sort of screening as part of the diabetic check up.
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Perhaps it’s new, I figured as usual I was the last to hear but maybe not. Not sure my failing has much to do with psychology, more like gluttony.
 
Fenn said:
Hi, been referred to diabetic psychologist today
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Must be this week's quota to fill! I had a 'run in' with my Diabetes Nurse today, she didn't comprehend that not getting to see a consultant until over 12 months after my initial HbA1c and positive GAD could possibly be a 'little frustrating' and not going down well with me, and she offered an urgent referral to a counsellor! I said I'd rather have an urgent referral to a dietician and Endo. She was 'not prepared to carry on the conversation' (again).

I'm sure it works for some people. I know I do not have the right mindset.
 

The last few years I get the impression from the demeanour when I walk in the office they want me to "take a couch.."

I have a DSN that tries to check out my head? The last one was a phone appointment due to her being self isolating with her family?
(They all got covid. From what I can gather.)
Weirdly, she seemed desperate to keep me on the phone longer than needed? (I had to get back to work.)
I left her with the advice to phone the Samaritans if she needed professional help..
 
Ohh, I should’ve done that today, The consultant asked me how I was, “fine thanks, how are you?” And he proceeded to tell me his woes, I wasn’t sure what to say but he’s very worried about the war.
 
I fear I’m the same, I might just sit there not speaking or knowing what to say because I am supposed to.

Sorry to hear you haven’t been seen by endo they won’t leave me alone, post code lottery maybe? Hope you get to see one ASAP.
 
Fenn said:
Ohh, I should’ve done that today, The consultant asked me how I was, “fine thanks, how are you?” And he proceeded to tell me his woes, I wasn’t sure what to say but he’s very worried about the war.
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Yep, to put life into personal perspective..

My understanding is people who deal with others issues in the counselling profession have a serene calm adjustment in thier aproach & let the patient talk..?
My thoughts are there is far too much pressure on them to deal with the phycology too? That should be another "department."

But that could just be how my area deals with it..
 
Fenn said:
Sorry to hear you haven’t been seen by endo they won’t leave me alone, post code lottery maybe? Hope you get to see one ASAP.
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I've got a private appt at the end of the month, and I can't wait! How sad has my life become?
 
I was referred to a psychologist in 2019 by the diabetic consultant I saw for food issues but then covid came and I didn’t see anyone. I had an annual review in 2021 (first time of seeing a diabetic professional in 2 years) and I mentioned about the psychologist and he told me that they were leaving. I can’t believe a hospital only has 1 psychologist. So have no idea when I will see anyone.
 
There is a difference between psychologists and psychiatrists. The -ologists are trained on watching how animals react to stimuli (prod them and see how they react) and the -iatrists in USA are the ones with the couch and the dialogue, but in UK they just deal with supplying medications and hospital admittance / sectioning.

Sometime it is indeed a case of physician heal thyself. A prime example of "it pays to be mad to work here". My late wife got on well with her advisors, and ended up painting their portraits.
 
It's true that only a small proportion of people with psychology degrees work with patients. However, in healthcare, psychologists can specialise in clinical, counselling, forensic or health psychology. https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ex...tween-psychology-psychiatry-and-psychotherapy

The link also explains the differences between psychologists, psychatrists (who have medical degrees) and psychotherapists.

Psychiatry has several specialties:- https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/psychiatry
 
I used to see a psychologist a long time ago, I imagine it'd be a bit different as I was a teenager so it was a child psychologist. It was about my diabetes (referred through the diabetes clinic) but they weren't just a diabetes psychologist. I was 14/15 when I used to go and I'm 34 now so my memory is a bit dodgy, I went maybe monthly for like 9 months I think. I can't remember. As far as I remember it wasn't really that useful but I didn't really need to see anyone, my parents asked for me to be referred but I don't remember why.
That's not massively helpful is it it wasn't like "tell me about your childhood" type of thing, and it wasn't talking about feelings either, it was more like practical things that would help me with my diabetes and how that helped, like I remember talking about needing to organise all my diabetes stuff so I would know where it was and then further down the line, had I done that, had it helped, and why.
 
The psychologist called today, I said I didn’t know what to say or do if I take up her offer, she said “not to worry and she would do most of the talking and we would start by discussing my diabetes journey and how to move forward” I have to say she sounds really lovely and we have an hour booked on the 18th, will give some feedback in case anyone ever gets a similar offer, thanks for replies.
 
Fenn said:
I am in Surrey, UK. Not sure exactly what the board would be called sorry.
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Thank you. I was just curious as I've heard others on the Forum mentioning such a service but I have never heard of anything similar in my own health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 
I have also been offered this service, to see a psychologist. I have agreed to the appointment, and to be honest, I'm okay with it.

"I think it's to do with my relationship with food. I have safe foods that give me more or less calculated results that more or less match my insulin profile.
For example, I will eat a tin of Heinz Ravioli and 2 slices of wholemeal seeded bread (78g CHO) for an evening meal, (Pre cooked pasta reheated doesn't cause my blood sugar to spike). That's okay, problem is I may have that meal 3 times a week. It doesn't make me a bad person
It just shows that my idea of being in control is eating something that gives me an expected outcome with my insulin dose.
This is what works for me, I've never been a foody type of person so my food choices don't bother me as much as they bother other people.
Eating out is probably my biggest issue with this type of eating.
(I do also eat healthily, plenty of veg, and limited fruit, I suppose it's more of a balanced diet)."

So I wonder what we will talk about?
I hope my views on food and how I manage things haven't caused anyone to be annoyed. And I'd only meant to say that yes, I'm seeing a psychologist!
I think it just goes to show, that I'm ready to talk to someone!
 
When I was diagnosed in January it was through DKA and I had a psychologist come to my bedside and talk to me, asking me if I truly understood what happened and what the future holds etc etc I’m not sure if this is normal practice or because of the way I was diagnosed? But I was offered to speak more to her if I needed too but I didn’t take them up on the offer
 
I do remember reading a study (unfortunately can't remember the details about it) that posited there was an unexamined relationship between Diabetes and Psychological issues, which could partly be caused by Blood Sugar instability itself, and partly caused by the sheer volume of decisions a Diabetic has to make in managing their condition over a prolonged period of time. So this may be some sort of response to that research.
 
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