- Messages
- 151
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Hi to all
First, please accept my apologies for the following long post about my experience so far and writing it for others to read has been somewhat cathartic.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes back in late Early February 2018, following a severe illness which resulted in full blood tests. 3 blood tests later (GP thought such high levels in HbA1c in first test may be an anomaly due Ribena, plus 6 months previously a full blood test for an unrelated illness, showed no issues in blood or cholesterol).
Let’s say, the nurses taking bloods, my GP were excellent. But that is where my experience in dealing with subsequent 'professionals' has been sadly very poor.
Visit to Diabetic nurse was organised, where in a short session, I was told my HbA1c was 71, was being prescribed Metformin SR start on 1 tablet daily for a week, then increase to 2, then 3 then 4 tablets daily. Then was handed a photocopied booklet (mainly advice for type 1), advised to fill in a form for free prescriptions, to diet, exercise more and eat smaller portion, that an eye scan will be organised for me and in 3 months to call for arranging another blood test.
To say I was shocked was understatement, I was just a number on a conveyor belt system that I failed to register the visit was over until she said bye and if you have any question check the booklet first!
I tried phoning a day later as no idea when to take tablets other than read the leaflet instructions after meals. is that all 4 at once, spread throughout the day? Unfortunately, she was busy, and I failed to follow up.
I then turned to the internet and found this site, joined and read the forums, read other people’s experience and realised, I was not alone in my experiences and picked up some advice I have followed, especially re diet and taking my tablets and monitoring your glucose levels.
I got a letter in post two weeks later about attending the 1-day NHS DESMOND Course for newly diagnosed Type 2, which I gladly accepted in hope of learning a lot more about living with diabetes, diets (as I am allergic to eggs and fish), being positive and proactive to get my diabetes under control.
The days course was an eye opener and felt that the course is run to s strict timetable, questions asked was either deflected to it is in the booklets we provide or deal with them later - but asking questions that challenged the information and how it was achieved were distinctly brushed aside or ignored. They kept going on about importance of finger pricking yet then state the NHS has finite resources, so it must be self-funded. The link between good/bad fats HDL/LDL, were left as the booklets are there were here to sign post the way, not answer.
All in all, I feel like it was a tick box operation to prove something was being done.
However, on positive side I have decided to be proactive myself
Follow the forums for other peoples experiences and advice
I have got myself a bike, try and do at least 40 mins ride each day and 1 hour a day at weekends
Trying the LCHF diet with my wife being patient
Bought a FreeStyle Libre to self-monitor
If you got this far, thanks for reading and humouring my cathartic approach
First, please accept my apologies for the following long post about my experience so far and writing it for others to read has been somewhat cathartic.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes back in late Early February 2018, following a severe illness which resulted in full blood tests. 3 blood tests later (GP thought such high levels in HbA1c in first test may be an anomaly due Ribena, plus 6 months previously a full blood test for an unrelated illness, showed no issues in blood or cholesterol).
Let’s say, the nurses taking bloods, my GP were excellent. But that is where my experience in dealing with subsequent 'professionals' has been sadly very poor.
Visit to Diabetic nurse was organised, where in a short session, I was told my HbA1c was 71, was being prescribed Metformin SR start on 1 tablet daily for a week, then increase to 2, then 3 then 4 tablets daily. Then was handed a photocopied booklet (mainly advice for type 1), advised to fill in a form for free prescriptions, to diet, exercise more and eat smaller portion, that an eye scan will be organised for me and in 3 months to call for arranging another blood test.
To say I was shocked was understatement, I was just a number on a conveyor belt system that I failed to register the visit was over until she said bye and if you have any question check the booklet first!
I tried phoning a day later as no idea when to take tablets other than read the leaflet instructions after meals. is that all 4 at once, spread throughout the day? Unfortunately, she was busy, and I failed to follow up.
I then turned to the internet and found this site, joined and read the forums, read other people’s experience and realised, I was not alone in my experiences and picked up some advice I have followed, especially re diet and taking my tablets and monitoring your glucose levels.
I got a letter in post two weeks later about attending the 1-day NHS DESMOND Course for newly diagnosed Type 2, which I gladly accepted in hope of learning a lot more about living with diabetes, diets (as I am allergic to eggs and fish), being positive and proactive to get my diabetes under control.
The days course was an eye opener and felt that the course is run to s strict timetable, questions asked was either deflected to it is in the booklets we provide or deal with them later - but asking questions that challenged the information and how it was achieved were distinctly brushed aside or ignored. They kept going on about importance of finger pricking yet then state the NHS has finite resources, so it must be self-funded. The link between good/bad fats HDL/LDL, were left as the booklets are there were here to sign post the way, not answer.
All in all, I feel like it was a tick box operation to prove something was being done.
However, on positive side I have decided to be proactive myself
Follow the forums for other peoples experiences and advice
I have got myself a bike, try and do at least 40 mins ride each day and 1 hour a day at weekends
Trying the LCHF diet with my wife being patient
Bought a FreeStyle Libre to self-monitor
If you got this far, thanks for reading and humouring my cathartic approach
