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First visit with doctor

cherrydarling_

Well-Known Member
Messages
46
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
So today I had my first visit with my doctor since diagnosed, and to say I was underwhelmed is an understatement firstly she told me 'well done for spotting the signs and speaking my concerns about diabetes' when in fact i had a routine blood test and the doctor diagnosed me over the phone! Secondly she asked if the doctor had taken my blood pressure - refer to previous statement! Then she told me we'll put you on metformin, tell the nurse to send you on a course. Oh you'll get your feet and eyes checked annually, and you'll see the nurse in future. I had expected to come away with something informative to read! She didn't tell me when I'll need to see the nurse! I wasnt expecting to be in there for hours, getting every single piece of information I needed, but would have liked to have come away with some form of info but she told me my hbac1 was 53, my cholesterol was ok and my liver too. Oh and I'll be seeing a dietician some time next year. That' that then!
 
What a shame your GP was so slap dash
My GP is good when I’m with him but I have to keep track of making my own blood test and review appts. I got my eye check through very quickly but 6 months on I haven’t had my feet checked still. I check them every night myself, but I’m going to mention it at my next GP review next Monday.
 
Sorted
 
dbr10 said:
I see the GP more than the DN. She can be helpful sometimes.
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I only see the nurse to get the blood taken. I see my GP for review appts.
 
lucylocket61 said:
Sounds about what happened to me. I havent seen my gp about diabetes for years.
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I have never seen a GP for diabetes. I was called in to see the nurse after my routine blood tests, given some more blood tests, called in again by the nurse who gave me my diagnosis. That was 4 years ago. I have seen the same nurse ever since, and am seeing her again tomorrow.

@cherrydarling_ Most GPs haven't a clue about diabetes. Most of them devolve all T2 diabetes care to the nurse. The nurses tend to be more clued up than the GPs, they go on diabetes related courses, know the care pathway, and are generally a better bet. I imagine in some practices this isn't the case. It will all depend how big the practice is and how many nurses they have, and if any of them are senior prescribing nurses like mine is.

You need to make an appointment with the diabetes nurse as soon as possible - will probably be in the New Year now. She will be responsible for referring you to the retinal eye screening programme and will do your foot checks once a year. She will be your main (and probably only) diabetes contact. She will weigh you, take your BP and go through your results with you if that is necessary. She may also ask for a urine sample.

Your HbA1c isn't at all drastic. Many on here were nearer 100. You can get this down.

Please ask for a print out of your test results. You can ask at reception for these. Being told your cholesterol and liver are fine isn't enough. You need to know the numbers. They are just as important as your HbA1c. The print outs will tell you which tests you had, what the numbers were, what the standard normal range is. If you live in England your surgery may put test results on line, as they were asked to do before May 2016 (although some haven't). If they do, you can register for this service.
 
I have only seen a dn about diabetes. This suits me just fine because my gp only wishes to talk about cholesterol/statins. I sometimes think I could go in to see him with my leg hanging half off and he would stare at his screen and say 'Hmmm... Cholesterol is too high, I will give you a prescription for....'.
 
I swear they get paid to stick people on statins! They made noises about it when I had my second appointment at the diabetes clinic. I couldn't understand why my LDL cholesterol had gone up when in fact I had lost nearly 2 stone in weight at that point. Turns out that is what weight loss can do - to cause a temporary rise in LDL and that cholesterol should be checked when your weight has been steady for a few weeks.

My GP isn't too bad - they haven't pushed the statins on me - just put it on my repeat prescription. They can prescribe it all they want - whether I'll take it - that's up to me - I choose not to do so. I take artichoke instead.
It seems to be a bit of a lottery with GP's as to whether they are good or not unfortunately.
 
Nicksu said:
My GP isn't too bad - they haven't pushed the statins on me - just put it on my repeat prescription.
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He put it on your repeat prescription without discussing it with you? That is appalling and against the NICE guidelines.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
He put it on your repeat prescription without discussing it with you? That is appalling and against the NICE guidelines.
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I've given up arguing with them about it! Some GP's in my practice are better than others (or should I say pushier than others?!). The irony is the one that is supposed to be the specialist diabetes doctor doesn't seem to know that much!
As someone else on the forum said, smile and ignore them! At the end of the day they can't shove the pills down our throats - it is our decision on what we do with our lives and our health.
 
I've probably seen a doctor about diabetes twice in 32 years. I haven't have my blood drawn in 10 years (I check my A1C via fingerstick and get kit at the drugstore for $20). Never had my "feet checked" (I know how to feel for the pulses myself). I can prescribe my own insulin, atorvastatin, and lisinopril. Just had my eyes checked though, I'm a good diabetic!
 
Rachox said:
I only see the nurse to get the blood taken. I see my GP for review appts.
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I have my bloods drawn by a health care assistant or a phlebotomist in the blood clinic at the surgery, then I'm given an appointment to see the nurse once the results are in. The nurse has taken the place of the GP and the phlebotomist has taken the place of the nurse! The GP is redundant!!! Lol.
 
Can I just ask, when anyone first took metformin, if you experienced any nasty stomach problems (on the first day of taking them) My stomach was fine and dandy this morning, got home from docs, popped a pill with a bacon roll (low GI from Lidl) had a nap with littlun then woke up with the most awful stomach so not sure if was the roll or the pill?! (And i can't remember how I was with the pills when I had them 2 years ago )
 
Met tummy is probably one of the most common topics on the forum, if it does not settle you could ask for the slow release version if that is not what you have been prescribed.
 
I had stomach ache and the runs for the first few days but I have no side effects now on 3 x 500mg tablets/day.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Are you legally allowed to do this? I am fairly sure UK doctors can't self prescribe.
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Yep. I don't hide anything. I can prescribe for family too, just not controlled substances and stuff like that of course. I've said before most of the older generic insulin products don't require a prescription here, just newer stuff like Lantus. You can go to Mexico and buy BP meds, antibiotics, statins at pharmacies without a prescription. Cheaper too. There was a strong push to make generic statins available over the counter, like ibuprofen and the acid reflux pills, which originally were prescription.
 
I know not everyone will agree with me but I think you should be in in a hospital speciality don't get me wrong most for thing gp are great but when you suffer with an illnesses you want to see the best person for the job and GP have to be a master of nothing but have to know little bit about everything the way it's going cancer will be under GP only I know that's a bit of an exaggeration but you'll never know
 
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