it's a shame

Lots like that. Found out an older acquaintance had diabetes for years (T2) so I asked him what he did, thinking I might get some ideas. He said "I just take the pill and eat what i like" I asked him what his HbA1c was, and his answer was "Fine, always about 7 so normal" End of discussion.

The trouble is with the GP and DNS whos seem to think that an HbA1 of 7.5 is absolutely fine. They also (or mine do) think that BG of under 10 or post prandial of 10 to 15 is fine also.

Hoping that my DNS (when she gets back from leave) will now take notice as my last HbA1c is 86. Also my GP surgery telephoned yester for appt with my GP about all my other high tests this time.

I agree with you Mary, it IS a shme. In fac its a disgrace! As o not being able to help those who can't helpt hemselves , of course this is true but you can understand them to an extent.

They don't think they need help. Why should they? The Nurse or doctor - the professionals representing the NHS -the EXPERTS- tell them they are fine so why would they listen to us - nutcases with a bee in our bonnets!

Its getting worse. You don't need tot est - leave it all to us - just do as we say and you will be fine. You can't be trusted to self-manage yoour condiion.

I have even been reprimanded in the past for checkinhg my own BP although I was advised to buy my own meter by the Dr immediately upon diagnosis. Now of course, this is NHS policy but much of it never reaches the Practices.

I wish I had a pound for every time I have heard someone say "But the nurse thinks I am doing well" when they have HBA1cs in double figures. Increasingly they are told by Nurses that readings in double figures two hours after meals are fine too.

It won't be the nurses coping with the complications and the issues surrounding them.

You will see this touched upon in several threads. Some menbers have had it all under control in the same place with the same medical team for many years . They are unaware of the "dumbing down" in diabetes care and would , no doubt ,be horrified if they or any of their family were to receive this kind of advice,

My mother who is just about to turn 94 still believes that the doctors and nuses know it all. However, I was getting worried about her lack of care and contacted her GP practice and stirred them up a bit. I got them to send someone out to see her. She lives in a small village and without help from neighbours cannot get in to town to the surgery.
Things are a bit better now. Luckily my brother, who is a retired vet is the one person around whom my mother's universe revolves and he's told Mother to listen to me, because he thinks I know a lot about T2.
Neither I nor my brother lives near enough to Mother to be there on watch so to speak.
I have persuaded her to change to Burgen bread and have only one slice of toast for breakfast. Again Brother eats Burgen [from choice. He's the only one who's escaped the T2!]
So Burgen must be good!
Hana

My experience is that making the necessary changes I am learning about here is very, very hard. Its only been 4 weeks, so hopefully it gets easier. But the changes are for life.

If I only did what the nurse/doctor say and just eat less and take the pills, it would be easy. So why would anyone bother to do the hard thing when the medical profession says do the easy thing? Those HCP's wont be around to pick up the pieces in 20 years time and they cant fight the budget cuts in the NHS either.

Its only because I dont trust doctors from previous experiences that I did my own research and found this forum. Plus another friend whose father followed the NHS guidelines for 20 years and is suffering for it now also told me to come here.

But some people wont/cant do the hard stuff even when they know. Denial is much easier and more comfortable. Then they can blame someone else when it all goes wrong in the future.

Sorry, hit a dip yesterday, went on a bread binge, and am struggling to pick myself up and start afresh again today.

LucyL
I think you've hit the nail on the head.
the Healthcare Professions only expect paients o do the easy thing.
ODD really since Coeliac disase is on the increase and they don't do it to them. Even though they can prescribe Gluten free versions of normal foods.
My friend's daughter has just been diagnosed Coeliac and is finding it difficult to provide appropriate foods for herself and her 2 young daughters, but she gets such bad symptoms if she goes off the rail, she really has no choice.
I think that's part of the diabetes thing too. Immediate symptoms may not be very obvious. Especially moderate highs.
Hana