Hospital Diabetes clinics

I go once a year but my eye check ups have been very erratic these past few years.They seem to have forgotren about me,too many patients apparently!

I'm obviously extremely fortunate. 27yrs since diagnosis and I've had 6 monthly check ups ever since. Admittedly there has been times when the 6 months has ran to 8 or 9 months but this has been down to me wanting specific day or time. I was and still am offered a 12 monthly appointment but decline causing no fuss or bother at all.
As for consultants I've seen my fair share, some easier to talk and relate to than others.
Strangely one particular consultant never seemed to interested and I wasn't over keen on seeing him. Purely by chance a passing comment was made which led to an off the record chat. It really opened my eyes to the job in hand for this guy and I suspect others as well.
It seems @Damonite that you've struck unlucky.
For me the NHS is very good, yes it has problems and failings, but I'd rather have it than not.
All this from a trust that regularly fails to meet OFSTED or whatever it is that reports on such issues.
They obviously don't ask everyone.

Ye it's rubbish. My last appointment was under five minutes as the consultant just told me he was happy to see me as I don't have any complications and it gave him a break..... I have only been offered annual appointments which often ends up being after 18 months as there is no spare times. I just need to keep in mind what I need and keep calling and emailing to get what I need. It's not great but it's better than nothing

I've been type 1 for over 20 years and I feel very let down. You are just basically left to get on with it in my experience.

Damonite said:

Whats the deal with diabetes clinics?!
Seriously

How often are you supposed to get your diabetes checked up on surely I think the main clinics are every 3 months?


My
hospital is **** at helping, my clinic appointments keep getting cancelled and set back further dates, last time I had a diabetes clinic was early febuary. Since moving to adults they don't give a **** about you. Honestly. Either that or my hospital is useless.

When I left children's clinic I was 20 this was because I suffer anxiety and depression and other reasons. So my lovely nurse let me stay on asking as I could with her. Since being in adults it's ****. It's **** because I never get a letter anymore from them about my routine checkups. I never actually see them because they keep putting my appointments back and back.

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I feel for you its frustrating when appointments are cancelled and put back it's happened to me. I am frustrated but able to keep plodding on, if you have additional issues to cope with such as depression and anxiety I think you need regular input from your care team. Personally i would have been able to help myself better if I was given more information to use such as reading material or online tools earlier on. I have managed to Google a lot and buy books (and this forum ). But a nudge in the right direction would have helped. It's annoying because things like dafne and discussing pumps or new treatment options require appointments with nurses or consultants.

@Damonite - I've heard from people before that moving from Paeds to Adult is a difficult change over.

It might help to identify what help you think you need from your clinic and share that with your GP. They can then write on your behalf. Alternatively, you could email or phone your diabetes nurse (the old one) and explain the issues you are having. It might help in getting the assistance you need.

Unfortunately, there are not very many places at D clinics and too many people, so the service is stretched, but ultimately, Type 1 is a condition that is best managed by the individual, with occasional assistance from the specialists. You should have been given enough education to help you with that and if you think you haven't, then you have to stand up for yourself to get it. Unfortunately that's the way the system works.

I have to say my team are fantastic. After years of attending the local diabetic GP based clinic I pushed to see the dedicated team in my area and since then I have had support and the reviews required. In my honest opinion you need to push and push hard to ensure the care you receive is correct. However this has a trade off which includes more testing, sharing information and basically being a better diabetic but the trade off of for me being more willing has proven a better response and interaction.

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