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Doctor rant..

Nicko2K

Well-Known Member
Messages
97
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
So I'm kind of new to being diabetic, so far I've only had one hba1c test and that was on diagnosis. The next isn't due to 6 months after the first one as the doctor couldnt fit me in for the 3 month check because he was 'busy!' I've only seen my nurse at the clinic once for an hour also on diagnosis. Later i had needles and pens thrown at me and left to my own devices with next to no information apart from a 2 page leaflet. Also still waiting to get my eyes checked as aparently i need a letter from my GP, or to be put on some sort of system before they will do so. Aparently that was being done within the hour about a month ago! Still nothing. Also have a slightly numb toe, which i mentioned to the nurse and doctor. The nurse said it couldnt have anything to do with diabetes. And the doctor shrugged his shoulders and asked if i had banged it. And yep its still as numb as ever. Just wanted to mention this and wondered if anyone else had to learn about their condition by sifting through endless hours of **** on the internet!

Type 1 Diabetic: (Novorapid/Levemir) Diagnosed 2014: Extremely handsome: Always smiling
 
I too had the same experience...a doctor who wasn't interested! I changed my doctor, was given support and sent on a course to learn about diabetes, also sent to see optician and podiatrist. Although I attended the course it wasn't helpful but finding this site and reading other peoples experiences and sharing their knowledge has helped enormously. I am still confused as to what I should or should not eat but I am learning. You don't have to trawl as most questions can be answered by the members of this site. Good luck and happy learning. x
 
Well atleast its not just me. Thanks! Feel alot better now after a moan lol. I think my experience so far and loosing the game tonight just toppled me over the edge lol

Type 1 Diabetic: (Novorapid/Levemir) Diagnosed 2014: Extremely handsome: Always smiling
 
Oh please don't mention the "F" word, my three men have almost turned the air blue. It's only a game! x
It sometimes does you good to rant and I'm glad you feel better now.
 
Is it possible for you to change your doctor? I'm not really sure how that works,but maybe talk to your gp? Having a team that doesn't help you (and doesn't even care) is terrible...

Do you know about carb counting etc?
 
There is no way you should have to put up with that. I would class their actions as negligence, and at the very least you should make an official complaint. Your health is their job, and they are not doing it.
 
Is this a GP or hospital consultant?

A type 1 is recommended to be under hospital care and if you aren't then get another appt with a gp and ask to be referred to a diabetic consultant, as obviously they specialist subject is D.

If you are under Gp care... Is there just one GP at your Practice? If more than one gp, why don't you just ask to see a different gp?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Most of what I know about diabetes has been discovered here on this forum and a few websites. Your treatment so far has been terrible and I would certainly try to change doc if you can but even then, don't expect enlightenment
Hope you get better treatment/advice soon and they sort your toe out, good luck, Mo
 
You can just pop in to your surgery ( if it gp who giving you this **** time). Ask receptionist to confirm that a letter has been sent for an eye test referral. If receptionist cannot check, ask to speak to Practice Manager. Ask where the letter was sent.. Ie which hospital and then phone up and check they received letter.
Yes, it's faffing around when you shouldn't have to, but better to be faffing than eyes not checked for whatever reason.

I have gp send letters and consultants etc and somehow they seem to get lost in post or snail mail.. But GP always has record on system.. Its alway the other end of the chain that gets mucked up with me.

Sx


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Nikko......depending on where you live that is, a newly diagnosed type 1 should be referred to see a hospital D consultant, but with all the NHS cutbacks, many diabetics are left under the care of their GP and a DSn that has knowledge about insulin as well as oral meds. If you are using bolus basal insulins, then you should receive guidance from DSN about using insulin to carb ratios . You should also be given sufficient bg teststrips so that you can test frequently and adjust the ratios by doing so. You can ask to do a DAFNE course but usually there is a long waiting list so to save yrself look online at the BDEC e learning carb counting course which explains how to use ratios and buy the book Think Like A P

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You can get yr eyes checked for damage to blood vessels caused by high bg levels at Specsaver opticians. They have the technology to do the same test that is done within clinics and for diabetics, its free of charge and the optician will do and show the results of the scan to you and discuss any damage. Its very good

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

And it's immediate.. And they can give letters to gp etc if they think you have problems with eyes.
It does NOT mean that you have to buy glasses from them...you are entitled to walk away with the details, of your eye examination..
Very good service.. As a diabetic you don't have to pay for any testing. Unless you tell them about your diabetes, they may not do retinopathy checks. My hubby didn't as a mon diabetic...but I did.



Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Hmm. Yeah i have a nurse and doctor at the hospital diabetes clinic. And a GP. Im on basal bolus. Nothing about carb counting yet or diet so taught myself. I was advised to inject 6 units with every meal end of story lol. Which wasnt cutting it so hence i learnt to carb count. I was going to try specsavers actually. But took my nurses advice who said they didnt do it! So been trying to get into the only other place that aparently does but they say they want the letter. Will get there in the end lol

Type 1 Diabetic: (Novorapid/Levemir) Diagnosed 2014: Extremely handsome: Always smiling
 
Nicko

Why don't you just phone up the hospital and ask to speak to your dsn there, or the consultants secretary?

Tell them the scenario told to us, I think somebody would get you sorted out.

Or ask your gp if they can sort you out carb counting course etc.

I get missed of my waiting lust for my clinics at hospital every appt. Basically the consultant says I 'll see you in 6 months and givrs me a note for reception to "action". Ur never gets actioned.. So every 5 months I phone up and tell them they've missed me off. I have never had an appointment at this hospital being sent to me... It is easy to phone up and get this state of play changed.

Please try again....




Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
In scenario's like yours, with your eye screening it is advisable to phone and get this sorted out with hospital. Despite specsavers being good.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Thanks for all info. Will get on the phone and start battering some ears lol. I do have an appointment at the diabetes hospital clinic, but its over 6 months apart from my diagnosis. Which i thought myself was a really long time to leave it especially as I've only had one done to date and it was sky high. I was under the impression a 3 month hba1c test was the norm.

Type 1 Diabetic: (Novorapid/Levemir) Diagnosed 2014: Extremely handsome: Always smiling
 
Gosh, things are so different nowadays.. I think 3 month is generally the norm for newly diagnosed, however I would personally have expected somebody to have followed you up after a month or earlier to see how you were coping....as a bare minimum.

30yrs ago you were taken in to hospital for a few days, at least and not let out until you could count "exchanges" as the system was in those days, inject and had an induced hypo. Things have so changed.

Hopefully somebody else who's been diagnosed this year will pop their head up and say what follow up they had.

There are 15 key check ups and entitlements that Patients should get. Our Practice has a notice up from this website that tells Patients what they should have as a minimum treatment, but I cannot remember all 15!!

Twlling secretary etc that your 3 month appt was cancelled due to doc being too busy and that you are a new diagnosed type 1 should start alarm bells ringing..


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I dont think the secretary will do much it was suppose to be a few weeks earlier but she pushed it back even further after flicking through the doctors diary. Well am guessing there is either too many diabetics in my area or not enough staff lol. Going to see if i can go to a completely different hospital dont even wanna go back there. Kind of knew something wasnt right when they were going to make me do another blood test because they didnt know how to find the results on the computer. I didnt want to as am not good with blood and was abit p'off that i did the first one all for nothing. 15 minutes later and 2 doctors manning the computer we find my info yay lol

Type 1 Diabetic: (Novorapid/Levemir) Diagnosed 2014: Extremely handsome: Always smiling
 
You quite entitled to change hospital. There are some really good ones around. Mine is outside of my direct area, I know from previous experience that the 2 within my ccg area are not so good as mine, but I do have to travel almost 60 miles to get there and back.

I fully understand why you would want to change. It may be like I did that you could phone other hospitals and speak to a dsn, (say you moving to area) and only just neen diagnosed and ask what treatment you would receive....
My situation was a bit different when I phoned round initially as I wasfinding out about pump clinics...


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My son got Type 1 when he was 12 and has had hba1 c's every 3 months up until he turned 18 this year, I was surprised at his first adult clinic to be told they would see him again in 6 months. I actually feel that it would be better if all Type 1's could be seen every 3 months if they felt that's what they would like regardless of age. We are in Scotland, maybe it's a different procedure up here.
 
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