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Local Disrict Nurse Knowledge and Some Positive News

sshaw99

sshaw99

Active Member
Messages
34
Location
County Durham
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I've read quite a few threads on here regarding the knowledge (or apparent lack of it) from various members' local healthcare professionals, ranging from GP's to local district nurses etc so I just thought I'd share my experience this morning.

So a couple of weeks ago I was contacted saying I was due a fasting blood test after being diagnosed T2 in late Oct.
So I arranged it for over the holiday period whilst I am also off work and attended the appointment this morning.
After reading some of the threads here I saw that a fasting blood test is to get an accurate breakdown of lipids, so thought I would check this with the nurse who was taking my bloods.
Turned up this morning and asked what the fasting test was for and she said it was just routine 3monthly check up. Bearing in mind I have only been diagnosed 2 months I thought this was a bit strange. I then asked her for a summary of my results to date and here is what I got:
diagnosis Hba1c 108.7
1 month on Hba1c = 80.0

Now I know that these Hba1c results equate to approx. 16.5 and 12.5 respectively from the convertor on here, but the nurse said these equate to 10.8 and 8.0. It seems as though if in doubt, just divide the number by 10!

SO although I was disappointed at my nurses apparent lack of knowledge there was at least some positive news:

At least my Hba1c is on the right downward track and am eager to see what my result is from my fasting bloods taken this morning (2 months on - providing they do that test!).
My blood pressure has come down to almost normal ranges
I've also lost just over 5Kg in 7 weeks - despite the Xmas period and a week just before Xmas when I was in India with work so couldn't get to the gym.

I suppose all in all I'm reasonably happy with my progress so far and it definitely gives much more enthusiasm to continue when you see the results in the numbers!
 
Hi and well done with the weight loss so far. Your nurse appears to have wrongly converted the HBa1C numbers. According to this website's converter the numbers should be 12.1 and 9.5% respectively. These numbers are very high and your target needs to be to get below 7.0%'ish. You are quite young for T2 but if you are still noticeably overweight then that would explain it. If you are now near normal weight do bear in mind the possibility of being a late onset T1. See how the weight reduction continues and your blood sugar. You must get hold of a meter if you haven't already got one. Your diet needs to be very low-carb at present making up with protein and fats. Let us know how you get on.
 
Well done on the reduction............. although you still have some way to go :)

There's more good and knowledgeable HCP's out there as there is bad and people shouldn't take too much notice of what they read on the forum, you should take people as you find them and then make your own mind up.
 
You have it right, @sshaw99. In mmol/l your HbA1c converts to 16.5 and 12.5 respectively. (the same units we see on our meters). Your nurse was converting back to the old HbA1c units.

Good luck with your other results.
 
Hi, @sshaw99 , Well done and keep up your good efforts and taking into consideration with Christmas etc; a extra well done.
Many things don't change overnight so just make sure that you choose your diets etc; carefully so that it suites all you requirements.
As @Daibell says you need a BG meter if you don't already have one.
Best of luck.:)
 
Well done!

Seeing the results of your efforts is very rewarding. :happy:
And now you know to treat anything you are told by your health care professionals with deep skepticism - until you have verified it using a reliable second info source.

Sometimes they are brilliant.
Sometimes they aren't.
And sometimes they are both, depending on their mood, the weather, and how exhausted they are...
;)
 
Thanks all.

Yes I have a meter (was one of the first things I bought after diagnosis) and I'm sure it has helped me loads so far.
I'm aware there is still a long way to go to get decent numbers but am really pleased with my progress so far in a relatively short space of time.

@Daibell yes I realise I am quite young for T2 and yes I am still overweight, but there is a huge history of T2 on the family. Both parents are T2, both sets of grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and so on, so I suppose not a total shock I have developed it.
I think a reduction in my Hba1c from 16.5 to 12.5 after 1 month is good progress and would love to think results from my test this morning would be in single figures but don't know if that is realistic.

I'm only 2 months into my diabetic journey but am pleasantly surprised what a difference you can make in a relatively short space of time.
 
sshaw99 said:
Thanks all.

Yes I have a meter (was one of the first things I bought after diagnosis) and I'm sure it has helped me loads so far.
I'm aware there is still a long way to go to get decent numbers but am really pleased with my progress so far in a relatively short space of time.

@Daibell yes I realise I am quite young for T2 and yes I am still overweight, but there is a huge history of T2 on the family. Both parents are T2, both sets of grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and so on, so I suppose not a total shock I have developed it.
I think a reduction in my Hba1c from 16.5 to 12.5 after 1 month is good progress and would love to think results from my test this morning would be in single figures but don't know if that is realistic.

I'm only 2 months into my diabetic journey but am pleasantly surprised what a difference you can make in a relatively short space of time.
Click to expand...

Keep going :) You'll get this under control with further discipline weight loss and diet. Good stuff :)
 
SO ok my latest blood results have come back.
Beforehand I would have been happy if my hba1c result was somewhere in the 60's as this would have shown further improvement from diagnosis only 2 months ago.
Well the result has comeback as 50!
So my results since diagnosis have been:
28 Oct = 116.7 (16.5)
27 Nov = 80 (8.5)
29 Dec = 50 (8.1)

Still a way to go to get myself below 41 but I feel that with this progress after only 2 months I am well on the way to getting this under control.
Now to concentrate on getting the occasional spikes smoothed out.

Happy New Year everyone! D)
 
Well done @sshaw99, great results and you should be so proud.
It's a marathon, not a sprint and your stamina is showing.
 
sshaw99 said:
SO ok my latest blood results have come back.
Beforehand I would have been happy if my hba1c result was somewhere in the 60's as this would have shown further improvement from diagnosis only 2 months ago.
Well the result has comeback as 50!
So my results since diagnosis have been:
28 Oct = 116.7 (16.5)
27 Nov = 80 (8.5)
29 Dec = 50 (8.1)

Still a way to go to get myself below 41 but I feel that with this progress after only 2 months I am well on the way to getting this under control.
Now to concentrate on getting the occasional spikes smoothed out.

Happy New Year everyone! D)
Click to expand...

Oh, WELL DONE!!! :D:D:D

And that is in 2 months, not 3!

Did they give you any feedback on your stupendous achievement?

And do you feel this is sustainable, in the looooong run? If not, now is the time to make some tweaks, so that you iron out any wrinkles before you start to struggle.

Am so chuffed for you! :happy:
 
NO feedback from them as I only got the results form the receptionist over the phone. All they said was everything "was normal" (although not strictly true I guess) so no further action required. From that I guess they are satisfied with the progress I am making so are happy to leave me alone so to speak! lol.

As to sustainability then I am determined to make it so. It hasn't been easy over the holiday period and I find that being off work doesn't help as I find it much easier to work to a set routine - which is difficult to keep to when you don't have a set timetable and lots of free time on my hands!

Starting to find I need some new clothes due to my weight loss as well so not a bad time of year for that to happen lol
 
sshaw99 said:
Thanks all.

Yes I have a meter (was one of the first things I bought after diagnosis) and I'm sure it has helped me loads so far.
I'm aware there is still a long way to go to get decent numbers but am really pleased with my progress so far in a relatively short space of time.

@Daibell yes I realise I am quite young for T2 and yes I am still overweight, but there is a huge history of T2 on the family. Both parents are T2, both sets of grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and so on, so I suppose not a total shock I have developed it.
I think a reduction in my Hba1c from 16.5 to 12.5 after 1 month is good progress and would love to think results from my test this morning would be in single figures but don't know if that is realistic.

I'm only 2 months into my diabetic journey but am pleasantly surprised what a difference you can make in a relatively short space of time.
Click to expand...

Well done for the progress you are making
 
noblehead said:
Well done on the reduction............. although you still have some way to go :)

There's more good and knowledgeable HCP's out there as there is bad and people shouldn't take too much notice of what they read on the forum, you should take people as you find them and then make your own mind up.
Click to expand...

You are so right I think people tend to lump all HCP's together and say they all give bad advice when that is not the case. People must make up their own minds about what their HCP's tell them and we must not tell them to ignore them as we are not trained medics
 
A district nurse will take your bloods to be reviewed by your GP or your Diabetic Nurse specialist. Your DN may just have been taking your bloods because they are trained to undertake that activity and may be more of an expert with wound care, dressings or palliative care. I would not expect all DNs to be experts in all areas of healthcare, we are very complex creatures we may have too higher expectations for all DNs to have a broad in-depth knowledge base.
 
Well done you! Don't forget to get your exemption certificate so that you don't have to pay for meds (if you haven't got one already!) and what meter have you got? I only ask because the first meter I got was cheap but the strips were £25 per pot. I've swapped to a code free and now pay £5.50 per pot. Ive finally got a meter from doc but have a limit of 1 pot per month so have SD code free as back up. I notice you're eating lchf. Have you seen diet doc? Hugsx
 
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