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First appointment!

annapanna93

annapanna93

Well-Known Member
Messages
54
Location
Lancashire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hey!

I've got my first appointment tomorrow with the Endocrinologist and Diabetic Nurse & I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what to expect/what will happen etc.

Thank you in advance!
Anna xo
 
annapanna93 said:
Hey!

I've got my first appointment tomorrow with the Endocrinologist and Diabetic Nurse & I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what to expect/what will happen etc.

Thank you in advance!
Anna xo
Click to expand...


Hi. I'm Type 2...so it may differ a bit..but hopefully one reply here will trigger others with direct Type 1 experience.

My first appointment was actually after I had been diagnosed in hospital following a transplant (the steroid treatment caused the diabetes)...and I saw the diabetes team next day. I am presuming you have already been diagnosed and that you are aware of your HbA1c level (ie. the blood sugar level average over the preceding 3 months)...you were probably given this when diagnosed. At your first appointment I would expect you to have your finger pricked to see what the level is at that moment (but they may not do that), blood pressure and weight check, urine sample (which you may have been asked to bring along). They may also check your feet. They should ask about your health generally and about your eating habits.The main objective is to chat with you, discuss insulin and explain your management plan, so you are comfortable with it. Diet will also be discussed and certain food recommended. Bear in mind that not everybody agrees with what the NHS considers a healthy diet. Ask about cutting carbohydrates and see what is said. It should be helpful. Don't hesitate to ask whatever. It's basically to get to now you, to reassure you so you know what you are doing. Come back onto the site afterwards and discuss it. You should survive it ok. ;)
 
pleinster said:
Hi. I'm Type 2...so it may differ a bit..but hopefully one reply here will trigger others with direct Type 1 experience.

My first appointment was actually after I had been diagnosed in hospital following a transplant (the steroid treatment caused the diabetes)...and I saw the diabetes team next day. I am presuming you have already been diagnosed and that you are aware of your HbA1c level (ie. the blood sugar level average over the preceding 3 months)...you were probably given this when diagnosed. At your first appointment I would expect you to have your finger pricked to see what the level is at that moment (but they may not do that), blood pressure and weight check, urine sample (which you may have been asked to bring along). They may also check your feet. They should ask about your health generally and about your eating habits.The main objective is to chat with you, discuss insulin and explain your management plan, so you are comfortable with it. Diet will also be discussed and certain food recommended. Bear in mind that not everybody agrees with what the NHS considers a healthy diet. Ask about cutting carbohydrates and see what is said. It should be helpful. Don't hesitate to ask whatever. It's basically to get to now you, to reassure you so you know what you are doing. Come back onto the site afterwards and discuss it. You should survive it ok. ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply! I really appreciate it. I like going into things with a bit of an idea of what's going to happen so you reply has helped a lot! Xo
 
Have you been formally diagnosed or referred to the DSN/endo following GP diagnosis? I was referred after GP diagnosis (I was caught VERY early as my partner is type 1 and spotted the very early signs and tested my BG and it was 23.6!), but after 2 weeks I still didn't have an appointment and BG was getting higher and I was getting more ill, so I was sent to the medical decisions wards. They tested my bloody sugar, blood gases, weight, height, and all the regular stuff you get when you're in hospital.

My first contact with the DSN and endo was that day. I was put on a basal/bolus regime of lantus and novarapid, the DSN showed me how to inject, test my blood sugar etc and gave me a months supply for needles, insulin etc and a BG monitor and a letter for my GP to put it all on repeat prescription. The DSN also gave me a lot of information, especially to contact my GP for regular feet checks and retinopathy tests.

The second time I met the DSN and endo was around 3 months after diagnosis. They repeated the same stuff from the first time I met them, as obviously its a lot to take in at first, checks my blood sugars over the previous weeks, how I am getting on, if I'm happy, if I understand whats going on etc. All that kind of stuff. Nothing too heavy, they gentley easy you into it.

Questions to ask them all depends on your current stage of diagnosis really!
 
annapanna93 said:
Hey!

I've got my first appointment tomorrow with the Endocrinologist and Diabetic Nurse & I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what to expect/what will happen etc.

Thank you in advance!
Anna xo
Click to expand...

If you still have some time before your appointment, write down all your questions, it's easy to come out of an appointment with unanswered questions so writing everything down means you ask all the questions you need to, they are there to help you so ask the questions you feel are pertinent to your well being, and have a good appointment :)
 
That's good to hear @annapanna93 They are generally incredibly helpful, I can only speak very highly of the care i've received, they are very much about supporting you so asking questions and getting the information you need is very important.
 
annapanna93 said:
Thank you everyone! Three hours later & I'm home. It went really well, they were all so nice!
Click to expand...

Excellent! That's good to hear. I like to have a general idea of what to expect if I have any kind of medical appointment. I wish there was a kidney transplant site with forums as useful as this one for diabetics. It would have made things less worrying for me over the years. Still, I know more about transplants and renal function not that many of the medical staff I meet (apart obviously from specialists) as I decided long ago that the best way to be informed is to inform yourself. That applies to diabetes for sure..and there are a lot of people here who can help point you in the best direction. Glad it was a positive experience.
 
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