NHS vs NHS-Scotland: Who Treats T1s better?

[david4503]

I've always felt that the consultant care isn't that great beyond their power to allow me a pump/sensor!
A specialist nurse can be great re the practicalities of living with type 1 but in my area they just don't have a full team and many of those community nurses are dealing with the needs of type 2 people as well.
For example when I see my specialist he or she (and they never know me given the infrequency of visits nor have seen my sensor data) merely checks my hba1c, checks my insulin doses (self reported) , weight and lipid panel thus prompting a statin discussion. I find it stressful and unhelpful because they are dogmatic about statins (they get marked down if they don't get all of us onto statins).
What specialist knowledge have you encountered that was useful to you? Genuine question!

In general, I think seeing a specialist for any condition that’s the least bit tricky makes good sense. They have more training than GPs or internists and they tend to keep up with the latest developments. For the diabetes, I’ve had the same one for 47 years (not a typo) and having one person rather than new people constantly makes a. big difference.

He’s helped guide me into improving my insulin regimen and solving the inevitable mysteries and weirdities (so to speak) of Type 1. Very good analytical thinker and diagnostician. Important as well, he’s good at distinguishing when some symptom I have is related to the diabetes or unrelated and how the diabetes might or might not affect treatment or outcome. Doctors tend to blame the diabetes first when the problem often lies elsewhere. It’s just easier for them.

It also helps to have one person who does Primary Care and specializes in diabetes. Very few of those doctors left. It’s valuable because doctors don’t communicate well with each other and the patient ends up being the go-between. They’re not shy about admitting the poor communication either.