Doctor or DN ?

[mistee71]

Who would be the best person to go to with diabetic problems? I can usually see the doctor the same day but to see the diabetic nurse can take a few days. Does it make any difference?

 

[didie]

We have two doctors who are diabetic 'specialists' at our practice. I was lucky enough to see one of them when I was thinking I had a virus/nasty jetlag and she diagnosed my stroke straightaway and packed me off to the stroke unit and I have stuck with her ever since. The diabetic nurse told me she didn't need to see me again and that was just fine with me.

 

[mistee71]

I dont know the correct protocall so to speak. Nobody has said anything to me but last evening at the doctors i found myself feeling really guilty when my DN walked past. I honestly felt like a naughty school girl :lol:

 

[SueR]

If it's diabetic related, it's my specialist nurse I contact. If she thinks I need to see a GP she tells me to see one at open surgery. On the other hand if I see a GP and he thinks I have a diabetic issue, he suggests I contact the nurse, so it works both ways.

 

[Anonymous]

I tend to refer to my diabetic specialist (she's not called a nurse) for planning my treatment as I know she runs any changes in medication by my GP. I only see him when I have something else bothering me (which is usually DB related anyway - isn't everything). That is when my GP isn't on a sabbatical or hunting rhino's in the Serengeti.

 

[Pneu]

I would say try both and then go to the one that listens to you!

I don't use the GP's or Diabetic Nurse at my practice... I see the consultant if I can or if not the Diabetic Specialist at my local Diabetes centre... mostly because they have managed my care for 10+ years and mostly because I can have a sensible conversation with them...

If you find a good HCP you fight tooth and nail to keep them as they are unfortunately in my 10+ years experience a rare find! I am quite lucky that my GP irritated my consultant so much by refusing to prescribe what he requested that last time the diabetes centre thought about sending me back I had a word with the consultant who agreed my GP wasn't up to standard and I could continue my care indefinitely at the centre.

 

[Daibell]

I think it depends entirely on your local surgery. Not all surgeries have db specialst GPs or nurses but usually they have at least one of each. At my surgery a few years back the db specialist GP seemed to know little about db but the db nurses were quite good. Now the new db GP is quite good but fairly new to it and the best db nurses have gone so bottom line is it's a lottery and there is no best answer

 

[Unbeliever]

If I know that I really need something and what that is I will go to one of tthe two senior female Gps to ask for it.
All the Gp's hate havig any invovement in diabetes care and will advise you to speak to the practice DSN but
I have no confidence in her . I point out that she can't prescribe in her own name anyhow.

If I can make out a good case for my request and have done my research then they will usually oblige,
The younger GPs appear unable to think for themselves but these ladies appear to feel some responsibility towards patients - even if they have diabetes.

It is very much a mater of trial and error as Daibell says. I have met specialist diabetes GPs who were o helpful but other doctors who had an ierest in the subject and were much better. None of the Hurses in the two pracices where I have been treated knew much about diabetes - although they believed they were experts..

Certainly do your bes o say with anyone who is helpful to you wih your diabees. Unfortunately there is no quick and easy way to idenify him/her.