• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Feel a little lost

Danny61 said:
Firstly congratulations. That is a fantastic achievement, of which you should be amazingly proud of yourself. I have gone from an 88 reading to 42 in 6 months. I hope next time, in June, I will be "Clear" Cured" "In remission" ar any other combination of words that ultimately mean I do not have Diabetes. At that point, fingers crossed, I will be more than happy to lose any or all of the tags I have been labelled with since my diagnosis. However what I will do is insist on at least an annual check up with my Dr. And I will make sure it happens. Don't be driven by your Dr, be driven by what is best for you, and fight for that right. Dr's tend, I have found, to get lost in the numbers game, and forget to treat their patients like individuals. Your job is to remind them that you are very much an individual, with needs, with expectations and with rights. Go for it, and good luck :) Danny
Click to expand...
I agree. In another life both my children had asthma, from babies. My ex wife learned quickly to rattle the GPs cages to get what was needed. She herself being of quiet demenour, was not used to that kind of approach but needs must. I learned from her there.
 
Listlad said:
When did they stop yours? I had one done in Feb last year.

View attachment 32134

Strangely I am going for a Fasting Blood Glucose Test tomorrow at my local surgery. Am just about to stop eating as of 9pm.
Click to expand...

I was diagnosed in January 2014 and they were doing them at that time. When the initiative came in to give over 40's a health check I imagine they were inundated with blood tests. Fasting tests create a long waiting list as they all have to be fitted into a short period of time in the earlyish mornings. Going straight for an HbA1c doesn't require fasting so they can fitted in at any time of day. I don't know, but I imagine this has something to do with it. I know that is the reason many surgeries do not require fasting for cholesterol tests as it is mentioned in the NICE guidelines.

A couploe of years ago I did ask my nurse why I no longer had them. She told me it is well known how unreliable they are (and we all know that to be true) and it was more cost effective and more reliable to just have the HbA1c.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I was diagnosed in January 2014 and they were doing them at that time. When the initiative came in to give over 40's a health check I imagine they were inundated with blood tests. Fasting tests create a long waiting list as they all have to be fitted into a short period of time in the earlyish mornings.
Click to expand...
Yes, I have mine at 9am for that reason.

I had a few in the Isle of Man. I once forgot to fast and the nurse went loopy.
 
Emma_369 said:
Hi All
Brief background for those who don’t know me :
Diagnosed sept 18 Hba1c 62
Dec 18 Hba1c 32
Mar 19 Hba1c 31
When nurse gave me my latest results she said She would class me as diabetic in remission and well done. I found out my doctor had put diabetes cured on my notes and wanted to discuss this as didn’t believe you can cure it and so today had my appointment to basically tell him off.
My doctor was off so got another doctor. Who told me that whilst cured isn’t the right word, neither is remission. He has changed my file to say diabetes resolved which he is adamant is the correct terminology. He said as it stands today, I am not diabetic. I can not call myself diabetic. I will not get called for annual bloods,reviews,eye tests etc. My weight loss and diet has put me with no diabetic readings,symptoms etc so I am entitled to none of the above. He said that in the future should I gain weight, or get symptoms go back. I will always be more susceptible to diabetes but that if I stay as I am I could also go decades without ever having another symptom and be ‘normal’ for the rest of my life and so that is why my medical records will show resolved until a time when symptoms return. When I expressed that this was only the case because of my low carb diet and that if I was to introduce carbs my level would increase he said that is irrelevant. With no medication, and readings at that level I am not diabetic. He also commented that he wouldn’t have diagnosed me diabetic off one blood test but that all doctors are different.
I feel a little lost to be honest. On one hand I think wow - I’ve done what we hope for. I’ve reversed my symptoms. I’m proud of how I’ve tackled it. But On the other I feel a little like the system, rather than checking and making sure I maintain such levels, are happier to say come back when you’re ill. Being diagnosed diabetic changed my life in so many ways. Physically and mentally I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been. I’ve changed entirely as a person and now feel a little odd at not labelling myself diabetic anymore.
No real question to ask on the post just needed to express my emotion with people who would perhaps understand my mixed feelings
Click to expand...
Show your doctor these references:-

Public Health England say:
Current evidence shows that all people with diabetes should be screened for diabetic retinopathy for life once there has been a definite diagnosis of diabetes, excluding gestational diabetes.
https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/20...dont-slip-through-diabetic-eye-screening-net/
​
Diabetes UK say:
Everyone in remission should keep getting regular healthcare checks and ongoing support for self-management, specific to their needs. They should have these checks at least once a year – including eye screening.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/professionals/position-statements-reports/statement-remission-type2
​
The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme say:
patients should be screened annually for life if there has ever been a definite diagnosis of diabetes, excluding gestational diabetes
https://assets.publishing.service.g...87/DES_07_GP_information_sheet_March_2016.pdf

​
 
Some great resources there from @bulkbiker and @Darkhorse. Thank you.
I hope OP gets their coding fixed at the GP. Has OP done an informal OGTT at home or a formal one at the surgery? I presume if still diabetic, then this bg would skyrocket vs someone without diabetes (or in remission) where the body can cope (ie body produces insulin which it responds to)?
Note some test protocols require consumption of 150 g if carbs for a few days beforehand whereas some protocols don't.
 
@Emma_369

I went for my Fasting Glucose Test this morning. I asked for my status at reception. They said “Prediabetes”. I shall double check that at the review in a couple of weeks. If it keeps the window open to regular checks in the future I am happy with that.
 
Listlad said:
@Emma_369

I went for my Fasting Glucose Test this morning. I asked for my status at reception. They said “Prediabetes”. I shall double check that at the review in a couple of weeks. If it keeps the window open to regular checks in the future I am happy with that.
Click to expand...

Did you ask for the actual figure?
 
Listlad said:
The figure? Do you mean the code or the fasting glucose figure? If you mean fasting glucose figure that won’t be available till later today or tomorrow.
Click to expand...

My apologies. I misread your post and thought it was FBG that was prediabetic! I need a cup of tea to wake me up a bit. :)
 
:). Ha. No. While I was in getting the FBG test done or rather immediately after, I asked at reception about my diabetic status as of that moment. Prior to the FBG outcome. They said prediabetic. Which is a bit at odds with other opinion.
 
Listlad said:
:). Ha. No. While I was in getting the FBG test done or rather immediately after, I asked at reception about my diabetic status as of that moment. Prior to the FBG outcome. They said prediabetic. Which is a bit at odds with other opinion.
Click to expand...

The doc is probably waiting for another HbA1c. A status is unlikely to be changed on the basis of one test.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
The doc is probably waiting for another HbA1c. A status is unlikely to be changed on the basis of one test.
Click to expand...
Yes, that probably explains why he said to go back in 3 months time for another one. Good thinking. I hadn’t thought of that.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
The doc is probably waiting for another HbA1c. A status is unlikely to be changed on the basis of one test.
Click to expand...
My hba1c has been in the 30s for approx 5 years and I’m still classed as diabetic by my surgery!
 
Daphne917 said:
My hba1c has been in the 30s for approx 5 years and I’m still classed as diabetic by my surgery!
Click to expand...

It is because there are no official guidelines for our GPs so they do what they want to, or think best, or don't do anything at all. Sadly, they are not obliged to.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
It is because there are no official guidelines for our GPs so they do what they want to, or think best, or don't do anything at all. Sadly, they are not obliged to.
Click to expand...
Mine does seem to do things their own way - despite asking again I’ve been told that our GPs will only give online access for repeat meds and appointments (usually one per week!) not test results and other records so all patients have to ring within a one hour afternoon slot to get their results. Perhaps that’s why only 20% of patients have signed up for it.
 
Daphne917 said:
Mine does seem to do things their own way - despite asking again I’ve been told that our GPs will only give online access for repeat meds and appointments (usually one per week!) not test results and other records so all patients have to ring within a one hour afternoon slot to get their results. Perhaps that’s why only 20% of patients have signed up for it.
Click to expand...
I get test results online.

I just got a heap of blood count stuff through. Still awaiting other results. Maybe tomorrow.
 
Daphne917 said:
Mine does seem to do things their own way - despite asking again I’ve been told that our GPs will only give online access for repeat meds and appointments (usually one per week!) not test results and other records so all patients have to ring within a one hour afternoon slot to get their results. Perhaps that’s why only 20% of patients have signed up for it.
Click to expand...

Sounds exactly like mine! Do you live near Doncaster?
 
Chook said:
Sounds exactly like mine! Do you live near Doncaster?
Click to expand...
No Somerset although bizarrely I can see some of my blood results on line through DiabetesMyWay which Somerset has recently introduced and I’ve signed up for.
 
Listlad said:
I got the figure this morning. 6.0. They have that as normal. But other sources say Prediabetic range...
Click to expand...

It may say normal because it is the lab that makes those notes, and it isn't diabetic.
Pre-diabetes, for diagnostic purposes, is 5.5 to 6.9. 7 and over is diabetic. This is for diagnosis purposes.

Not a bad result for you, considering you had to get up, get ready, get to the surgery, and possibly endure some anxiety/stress in the process.
 
Back
Top