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Frustrated

A

alanfisherman

Member
Messages
9
Location
Burham-on-Sea Somerset
Dislikes
giving in to disability
Hi I am unable to get through to my GP and I am put off pursuing answers that I am given, let me explain; I was taken ill in 1989 and was told I had Pancratitus, (No I am not a drinker). I had an emergency operation and 95% of my pancreas was removed. Also removed was my spleen and gall bladder.
It was touch and go following the operation whether I survived or not. Since 1989 I have asked questions of my GP and he fobs me off with different answers, my sugar levels have been as high as 44 and as low as 2 so very erratic with no explanation.
Two years ago I was rushed into hospital with a heart attack and received a 'stent' in one of my arteries, before my release a Diabetic specialist came to see me and asked what insulin I was on.
I cannot for the life off me remember what it was but he informed me that I was not to use it as it was of no use to me.
He then prescribed Mixtard 30 which I had been on previously, before my GP changed it.
Since my heart attack I have tried very hard to control my sugar levels. My injection before my heart attack was 16 units at 8am and 16 units at 6pm. I now am on 32units at 8am, 12units at 1pm and 32 units at 6pm. I am now 66 years of age and have many defects due to my inconsistant
sugar control over the years and I was wondering whether a insulin pump may help to control my sugar levels?. Any advice would be much appreciated
 
sorry you are having such a hard time :( -a nd also sorry that I have no experience of this so can't offer you any advice or thoughts except one - if you are as unhappy with your GP as you say it may be time for a change - it can be dificult to bite the bullet and move on but you have to put your health first - hope someone comes along who can offer some advice to you :)
 
Hi 'lovinlife
Thanks for your reply, although you say you have no information or experience just a reply is enough.
A change of GP is almost inpossible as they are the only Health centre in my area, but I am hoping I can change to the local hospital. Thanks for the reoly
Alan
 
Alan,

What I know about pump therapy I could write on the back of a stamp. However, I would imagine that one of the criteria for a pump is someone who cannot control their diabetes by injections, and as a result has unstable and erratic control, which sounds like what you are experiencing.

Make a appointment with your diabetes consultant and discuss this with them, try and take along evidence of your control by taking with you a list of all your previous blood glucose results. Try and be persistent and put your case forward. Best of luck!

Nigel
 
Hi,
I do Know of a young girl who had her pancreas removed as a baby who uses a pump. There are obvious differences but it shows that it is possible. She does have to check her blood glucose levels very frequently as she has no hypo awareness, she also has a carer, ie her mother to look out for possible problems and to perform nighttime blood glucose checks. She has better control now, though still some unpredictable highs and lows.
see
http://www.hi-fund.org/jessica3.html
The insulin regime you are using though is not the most flexible. Mixtard contains both long acting and rapid mixed together. It means that if you increase or reduce the dose you change both background insulin and mealtime insulin at the same time. This can work fine for people who eat very regular meals and have a predictable lifestyle .
There is a regime called MDI or basal/bolus. This requires two different insulins, a basal or long acting (once or twice a day) to deal with glucose produced by the liver and aboluses of rapid insulin taken just before eating to deal with meatime glucose. With this type of regime it is possible to learn how to adjust the amount of bolus insulin according to the carbohydrate in the meals and to be able to inject correction doses for unpredictable higher levels. I don't know if this regime would work better for you but I found other people (by googling) with total/partial pancreactectomies that use this method. I think the big problem is that you may not only have lost most of your insulin producing cells but also those producing other necessary (counterregulatory) hormones plus digestive enzymes . This would make control very challenging. As with a pump it is necessary to learn to count carbs and to do frequent blood glucose tests.
When you go to the hospital perhaps you could discuss the possibility of a change of insulin to basal/bolus, obviously your specialist should know if there are any drawbacks to this regime for you. (there's also no harm in asking about a pump)
 
Hi Pheonix
Many thanks for your input, I read the account ref Jessica and feel very glad that Jessica is now progressing realy satisfactory I was 46 years old when I had my operation and was able to understand to some extent what was going on but admire her mum's attitude and will power to make things happen.
I feel that my problems are small up to Jessica's and hope that her mum updates her story/account regarding jessica, once again thank you. Alan
 
Hello Alan :)

I'm afraid that I have no little gem to add to anything that has already been said about medication.

However, if you can get a referral to an endo at the hospital It would seem that you can elect to have your diabetes care undertaken permanently by the hospital. That would appear to be your best option in your circumstances. I have had issues with my GPs surgery and have no confidence in them so when I was asked by the hospital where I wanted to be seen in the future I (almost bit off their hand!) chose the hospital - a great relief! 8)

I was told by a T2 friend (who shares my GP) that you have to be careful that the GPs don't hook you back into their system by arranging DN or similar appointments which are normally done by the caring surgery or hospital; apparently it is all to do with who gets paid for certain care items - not sure how it all works but was told to watch it. :roll:
 
Hi Synonym.
Many thanks for your comments, it makes me feel good that others have had similar problems with GP'S I am afraid as you say its down to cost's and who pays for what, pleased to see that you have your levels almost perfect, keep it up
Alan
 
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