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

First 3 month appointment with hospital Doctor

mountaintom

Well-Known Member
Messages
574
Location
Lauragh, Kerry
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,

I have my first quarterly “review” with the chief Doctor in a few weeks. I know I have to have bloods taken in advance for my HBA1C but how else should I prepare for this appointment? Should I get my hair cut?

Thanks
 
mountaintom said:
Should I get my hair cut?
Click to expand...
I'm thinking you should get it permed and get a tattoo on your forehead with "Diabetic specialists do it best".

Seriously, if you're feeling keen you could keep a food/insulin/blood sugar diary for a few days. I'm assuming your clinic can download your blood sugar results direct from your meter, but if not then definitely make a note of some results.

Make a list of all those questions you wanted to ask ...(Otherwise you're bound to forget some).

Good luck.
 

Question 1:

WHY ME
 
Depends on the kind of haircut you’re thinking of! Something dramatic would be good - they’d be sure to remember you.

Have you been given a lab request paper for blood and urine test(s)? If not then maybe ring the centre where the appointment’s taking place and request one. It’s not just HbA1c that interests the endocrinologists / doctors are interested in but also the results of the tests for liver and kidney function, cholesterol, triglycerides and possibly things pertaining particularly to you.
You may also be asked how you’ve been getting on. I hope you are! Tell them the good and the bad, and ask for help with anything that’s at all puzzling, or difficult, or that you think could maybe be improved.
Ask them if you’re on the list for a Dafne course, and if you’re not then can you please be put on it.
I’m pretty sure the others will come up with information and suggestions too.
Personally, I’ve found it best to be friendly, persistent if necessary, and to ask for explanations whenever needed. I suspect they’ll think you’re doing really well, despite any bad days, and be only too happy to have a shared review of doses, test results, experience so far etc with you.
 
You could probably download the data from you meter yourself and format it all pretty in a spread sheet - with little notes next to spikes - "That was when I ate ....."
 
mountaintom said:
Hi all,

I have my first quarterly “review” with the chief Doctor in a few weeks. I know I have to have bloods taken in advance for my HBA1C but how else should I prepare for this appointment? Should I get my hair cut?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Hi, I take a list of other medicines I'm on despite having told them before, my food diary and BGs and a list of questions.
I also asked for a print out of my previous HbA1c, GAD and c-peptide test from when I was first labelled diabetic.
I might consider wearing a wig, it's not as permanent as having it cut
 
Circuspony said:
Clean socks - they are obsessed with checking diabetic feet.
Click to expand...
Never once done that to me. Doesn't matter, I obsessively fiddle with my toes half the time anyway.

All I would say is that it is often a bit of a word game as they do not like admitting that they do not know things. Ask simple questions and do not go away until you have a satisfactory answer. Watch what they say for weasel words and if they are patronising, call them on it. They are generally used to dealing with either five year olds or people with type 2 and they can lapse into the "five year old" approach.

It helps if you do not look like a teenager. I look like a teenager.
 
Take as much info about food and BG levels as you can - they can’t do much without data.

I had a major appointment a couple of weeks ago where I wanted to get my basal insulin changed and also make the case for keeping my Libre permanently after a trial period. So I went dressed for business, complete with battle handbag Came away with everything I asked for.
 
Look at your appointment that this is your chance to find out anything. If you have any questions ask them. Take a note pad.
My appointment with both my GP and Specialist are very similar
Small talk (Hi how are you, your looking well etc)
Asked how I'm going with managing D
Review test results with a discussion
Blood pressure check with comments, a bit high or great
Questions back and forth
Prescription written, Pathology script
See you in 6 months

If you come out of your appointment and you are unhappy with the Dr find another. I have been seeing both for so many years, (12) it's catching up with old friends. I don't call either Dr, but by their given names. I know I'm very lucky as both Drs are exceptional and at the top their games with exceptional bed manners.

Oh and get your hair cut! That should lower your HbA1C by at least 4 points! Maybe that is why skinheads never get D
 
The thing is they can be as exceptional as anything... But what can they truly do for you?

I always get the feeling that they're just blocking the fact that they don't really know anything. Like, I asked how long it would take for me to be basically non functional if I couldn't get insulin. As far as I know the answer is a few days if you don't eat. It seemed like useful information for emergency planning. But they didn't want to answer because I guess it's morbid. I don't appreciate their point of view but they didn't just refuse, they sort of hedged around it. They're sort of shifty like that.

Oh yeah and the you're looking well thing. I really wish people wouldn't say that. I'm not well and I will never be well again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…