Fed up with health centre

[TriciaY1963]

I am so fed up with my health centre, I haven't been able to get a doctors appointment, but I thought I'll be going for my yearly diabetic check up tomorrow, (which I booked nearly 5 weeks ago) then I received this message late this afternoon to tell me they've cancelled it, why leave it till the day before my appointment? They would have known this for weeks! I'm sick of it all...

"Dear Mrs *****,
Thank you for calling to book your Annual Diabetic Review.
Unfortunately, this has been booked in on Friday afternoon, when it is not possible to take the blood test which is required.
Please call the *** Health Planned Care Team to change this appointment."

(Mod edit to remove personal information)

 

[Tony337]

Hi
It does sound shabby.
At my practice you book a blood test which is always an AM booking as the blood has to be collected.
Then a seperate booking to see a nurse for general check up feet weight etc then the practice should contact you once the blood test results are in and the GP has worked out whether he needs to see you or not.
Thats how my GP surgery operates and was voted in the top 10 surgeries in the uk by the CQC.

See where your surgery stacks up and look for an alternative if its possible in your area.

Failing that pester them nicely and remember the receptionists have a lot of knowledge and if you treat them right they will look after you.

I wish you well

Tony

 

[Sarah69]

Does your hospital have a clinic you can go to? I don’t go to my dr’s for my diabetes I go to the hospitals diabetic centre.

 

[TriciaY1963]

No we don't have a diabetic clinic, we see a nurse at health centre

 

[Angela64]

I’d definitely phone them, I presume you’ve had blood tests beforehand that could be out of date for a future appointment.

 

[TriciaY1963]

I’d definitely phone them, I presume you’ve had blood tests beforehand that could be out of date for a future appointment.

Yes this appointment was for my yearly diabetic check, which they do a blood test, had check yesterday so will have to wait for blood results now, they didn't prick my finger so I don't know what blood sugar was

 

[Angela64]

Yes this appointment was for my yearly diabetic check, which they do a blood test, had check yesterday so will have to wait for blood results now, they didn't prick my finger so I don't know what blood sugar was

You need a monitor with lancets and testing stripS to monitor yourself. I’d ask and don’t take no for an answer! Many GP surgeries don’t give kits to type 2’s but this is not what the diabetic associations advocate. They might try and fob you off with you can go buy one, but I’d think about how to respond to that. I was ‘lucky’? I was given mine in hospital so Drs HAVE to continue it.
Look up NICE guidelines…..

 

[TriciaY1963]

Hi thanks for your reply, I've asked again at my yearly diabetic check up last week, and the answer was the same, type 2 diabetics don't need to check blood sugar, we only give meters to type 1, I was told to just stick to diabetic diet, which I haven't got a clue really, I was so fed up with feeling constantly starving, I just eat what I want, but not so much of it, its a bit difficult as we don't have a stove, just a microwave

 

[Deleted member 596235]

Hi thanks for your reply, I've asked again at my yearly diabetic check up last week, and the answer was the same, type 2 diabetics don't need to check blood sugar, we only give meters to type 1, I was told to just stick to diabetic diet, which I haven't got a clue really, I was so fed up with feeling constantly starving, I just eat what I want, but not so much of it, its a bit difficult as we don't have a stove, just a microwave

To the best of my knowledge, the medico's claim that T2s don't need
to check their BGLs, is at the least misleading, or at the worst totally untrue.

I'd suggest purchasing your own meter, lancets and test strips
if you're concerned about your periodic BG levels.

Kits are available for minimum costs, as per: GoChek Diabetes Test Kit.

 

[Angela64]

Hi thanks for your reply, I've asked again at my yearly diabetic check up last week, and the answer was the same, type 2 diabetics don't need to check blood sugar, we only give meters to type 1, I was told to just stick to diabetic diet, which I haven't got a clue really, I was so fed up with feeling constantly starving, I just eat what I want, but not so much of it, its a bit difficult as we don't have a stove, just a microwave

Thats not good, eating what you want. I went low carb high protein. Not having a monitor is not helpful because following a low carb diet its helpful to be able to see the results of your diet on blood sugar levels.
That advice is seriously not helpful and it was what I was told, I didn’t need to monitor my levels!!
Is there another nurse or dr at the practice You can consult?

 

[Angela64]

Hi thanks for your reply, I've asked again at my yearly diabetic check up last week, and the answer was the same, type 2 diabetics don't need to check blood sugar, we only give meters to type 1, I was told to just stick to diabetic diet, which I haven't got a clue really, I was so fed up with feeling constantly starving, I just eat what I want, but not so much of it, its a bit difficult as we don't have a stove, just a microwave

Overview | Type 2 diabetes in adults: management | Guidance | NICE

www.nice.org.uk

 

[Angela64]

Hi thanks for your reply, I've asked again at my yearly diabetic check up last week, and the answer was the same, type 2 diabetics don't need to check blood sugar, we only give meters to type 1, I was told to just stick to diabetic diet, which I haven't got a clue really, I was so fed up with feeling constantly starving, I just eat what I want, but not so much of it, its a bit difficult as we don't have a stove, just a microwave

If you ate more proteins you can feel more saited.

 

[Melgar]

I just don’t understand why the UK health system tells people not to test. Here in Canada I am told to test twice a day.

 

[TriciaY1963]

It's probably down to cost, I've been asking for the last 8 years for a meter, but to no avail

 

[TriciaY1963]

If you ate more proteins you can feel more saited.

OK thankyou, I'll try that

 

[TriciaY1963]

Thats not good, eating what you want. I went low carb high protein. Not having a monitor is not helpful because following a low carb diet its helpful to be able to see the results of your diet on blood sugar levels.
That advice is seriously not helpful and it was what I was told, I didn’t need to monitor my levels!!
Is there another nurse or dr at the practice You can consult?

It's difficult, as there is only one diabetes nurse for the whole practice, and they don't stay long, the nurse I saw last year was leaving as the workload was too much to cope with, I've never seen the same GP more than once either, and getting a face to face appointment is a nightmare, I will try that, I usually have microwave ready meals, as I don't have a oven, my husband does his best to find the ones with orange and green labels

 

[TriciaY1963]

To the best of my knowledge, the medico's claim that T2s don't need
to check their BGLs, is at the least misleading, or at the worst totally untrue.

I'd suggest purchasing your own meter, lancets and test strips
if you're concerned about your periodic BG levels.

Kits are available for minimum costs, as per: GoChek Diabetes Test Kit.

Thankyou, I'll go and have a look at the meters

 

[HSSS]

I usually have microwave ready meals, as I don't have a oven, my husband does his best to find the ones with orange and green labels

Can you get an air fryer (which is just a mini oven in reality nothing to do with frying) or something similar?

Can either of you cook? At all? Microwave meals really aren’t that great as a regular choice. The green and orange labels don’t cover carbs, only added sugar. And carbs are what affect diabetes most. It will be things like rice, pasta, potatoes, pastry, cereals, grains and bread as well as actual sugar that are the highest hitters and ditching them or drastically reducing at least will make the most difference. At the very least try and choose the meals with the least of these and maybe add extra good bits to it

Simple home made meals would be so much better for you (both). On the hob works for many choices. Meat, fish, dairy, eggs, veg or salad eat freely. Don’t be scared natural fats and don’t buy low fat versions as they just add chemicals or sugar instead. Eg a spaghetti bolognaise without the pasta (just have more meat sauce), chilli without the rice, soups, stir fry. All one pot. I’m sure we can give more easy cook ideas if we know what you like

 

[TriciaY1963]

Thankyou for replying, I don't cook at all, I never have, in all of my 60+ years, my husband says I can burn water, my husband does what he can, he works full time, and doesn't have the energy he used to, I will definitely look into a air fryer, we don't have a hob either, as for food, we don't eat fish, or anything spicy, garlic, or bolonase sort of food, I was brought up by my grandparents on roast dinners, jam roll poly, stew and dumplings, cold ham and chips

 

[HSSS]

Roast dinner without the potato and parsnips are good x add extra meat and other veg.
Stews are good but don’t add dumplings or potato, try turnip or swede as better (not perfect) alternatives.
Cold meats with salad or veg instead of chips.

If you want to see change you have be ready to make changes unfortunately.