Joining the club.....and feeling good (now)

Apologies for the length of the post, but an example of very mixed experience on being diagnosed.

Diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes officially confirmed today! The diagnosis process was not smooth. Attended doc for a medical (needed for a forthcoming trip) and blood sugars raised. At that time GP did not discuss the actual result, but rather the need for further tests - a second fasting blood test and the HbA1. When I tried to take the conversation further the GP refused to discuss on a "what if" basis - so far so good. Rather than a further appointment to discuss the results we arranged a telephone consultation. From here it goes off-track. Week later got a call from the surgery, no message, picked up from caller ID. Returned the call to speak to GP, to be told by the receptionist that I was diabetic and that she was calling to arrange appointments! When I took up with her this method of notifying me of a serious condition, she would not discuss, but more surprisingly refused to put me through to my GP. Via the post I then received a compliment slip confirming the diagnosis, plus follow-up appointments (2 months later) with diabetic nurse, followed by diabetic doctor (signed by receptionist only).

With a science & pharmacology background, & friends who are doctors, I started my own research. Came across this site & registered - brill. Accessed technical & research papers via medical contacts. Gained access to members of the BMA & Royal Society of GPs via contacts, their feedback was that this was no way to deal with a newly diagnosed patient. Once again via medical professional friends I was put in touch with senior medical research professionals; all this enabled me to collect lots of knowledge, new thinking, research etc, and answers to many questions regarding the condition (although not me specifically) plus how & where to obtain past research studies. This has all helped as I am on a major trajectory towards a better understanding and therefore less worry & stress.

The diabetic nurse today was brill, intelligently discussing my questions and confirming/correcting understanding. The disappointment was the doctor attached to the diabetic clinic. The treatment and explanations were incomplete and lack substance, I was also surprised at the lack of technical explanation or ability to answer some of my tech questions: eg. the pathways were for vascular degeneration, use of statins, causation of increase risk in heart attack/strokes etc. Lots of stats., that's what the advice is, "if it were me......", but no real technical explanations.

The entire process has been frustrating and left me with a serious lack of confidence with the senior part of the health care team responsible for the care and management of my condition; why should I have to rely on the grace & favour of contacts?

Am I just unlucky, are my expectations too high?

Andy12345 said:

hi, welcome

Click to expand...

Hi - thanks so much, particularly seeing your stats. Just getting to grips with the forums as a member. Going to try exercise & diet for the first 3 months - fingers crossed & here goes!

satindoll said:

I think you will find that most of the members here have suffered the same general apathy from their gps, specialist drs and nurses, if you try and show just a little interest in your illness or treatment most say don't worry about this or that, I'm sure if you read some of the threads here you will be appalled at the treatment some people have had from "The Caring Profession"

Click to expand...

Thanks for feedback - one good thing about today's meeting was that the clinic nurse did suggest this site & forum; fingers crossed at least one of the team is "with it".

Andy12345 said:

thats great, its really quite simple eat fewer carbs, lose weight if your on the wrong side of skinny and do some exercise if your able did i mention eating less carbs? lol if you have any questions at all please go right ahead and ask, you will get different opinions but thats great because you can choose what suits you, lots of clever folks here able to help if or when you need it

Click to expand...

Will do - at the moment doing lots of reading. Have about 2 stone to drop, but as recently retired, love outdoors, and otherwise healthy, am walking & swimming - the weather has been very kind to me!

Daibell said:

Hi and welcome. Your experience is not uncommon. In my experience and many on this forum there is a great deal of ignorance amongst the GPs and nurses even those who have had diabetes training. The knowledge conveyed to them can be dated and incomplete. To be fair it is a complete range of conditions with poor diagnostic tools, so guesswork is the order of the day for diagnosis. Treatment can be more organised, though. There are so many with diabetes that the HCPs don't have the time to discuss the condition; it's just a production line. You should find many answers on this forum so just ask and someone will be able to help. First steps include getting a glucose meter and having a suitable diet which means controlling the carbs.

Click to expand...

Hi - have ordered meter as reading research and forums makes it clear that understanding my "personal" situation as regards diet can only be corroborated by readings. I had already adopted a low GI diet and have lost 6lbs over 6 weeks, have lost inches (particularly waistline) and clothes are loser fitting than the weight loss would suggest. Tested HbA1c is 54 & fasting BG 7.8 (some 2 months ago) before diet & exercise. Will have to wait for next 3 month clinic to see whether I am on the right track.

nosher8355 said:

Yours is just the latest in many of the posters who have given accounts of the outdated and ignorant state of the medical practitioners within the NHS.
Don't be surprised.!

Click to expand...

Thanks - reassuring.

Bluetit1802 said:

Am I unusual? People here seem to see their GP regularly.

I saw my GP for my diagnosis (which I already knew about). All I was told was my CVD risk had now doubled due to the diagnosis and here are some statins, we give them to all diabetics. Make an appointment with the nurse and she will sort out your care pathway and look after you. Bye bye.
That was in January. No repeat meetings as regards my diabetes control and care. My nurse does all that.

Click to expand...

Not sure I will see the clinic GP again after today's performance! He suggested I would see the nurse regularly & him annually, but he did sort of add "if necessary" - may not be such a loss