I'm grateful to my surgery for diagnosing my Type 2 at an early stage. However I don't know who my GP is since the original one retired and his successor, who thankfully recommended this forum via Dr John Briffa, has also left.
A month ago I got a letter from two GPs at the surgery whom I have never met suggesting I enroll for a six-week course which doesn't target diabetes specifically. I didn't want to seem picky so I wrote back as below. I haven't had a reply.
"Dear Dr XXX/Dr XXX
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend a Self-Management for Life course next year. I have decided not to sign up to it because it isn't the X-pert course devoted to diabetes. After discussing the subject and purpose of the course on offer with a representative of Self Management UK, I don't think I would contribute to or benefit from a general review of "long term health conditions", since living with Type 2 has so far not caused me pain, tiredness, depression or relationship issues.
The DESMOND course I attended previously was obviously more relevant.
The DARE project in which I participated recently was very interesting. I got the HbA1c results from the surgery and I understand they show my condition to be stable, thus encouraging me to continue managing my diabetes without medication.
If there were a local discussion/support group for diabetics I would like to be involved, since the different types of diabetes, treatments and tolerances of individuals of medication and diet can be confusing.
I'd like this letter to be put in my records because I don't want to appear unco-operative, but I feel declining a self management course is a legitimate act of self-management!
Yours sincerely ..."