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NOT QUITE A NEWBEE BUT CONFUSED

A

ALLISON462

Member
Messages
14
Hi everyone
I wondered if I could ask a bit of advice.
I was diagnosed in Jan 2012 after losing a stone in 3 weeks and drinking for England. My GP took my blood gloucose and my sugar level 28.7 and ketones ++. She then packed me off to A&E. They were terribly ill informed about diabetes but did bring my BG down to normal ranges. I did not have my blood gases measures and as I had ++ ketones It has been assumed that I have type 1 (as they said no ketones with type 2). I had an appointment made to see a DSN and a dietician and then again two weeks after. They were both astonished at how quickly I picked it all up and sent me on my way with a prescription for novorapid and lantus. I have never heard from them since, never seen a consultant and never had any further tests. They never measured my hba1c (did i get than right?!). Is this normal procedure? Thankyou.
 
I get my Hba1c tested every three months or so, I see my diabetic nurse once every 6 months at my local primary care centre and a diabetic doctor at the hospital every 6 months also, so basically I see someone every 3 months essentially. Granted I did have initial troubles but it did die off after a while (1 year) until I voiced my concerns about not really understanding type 1 diabetes (and growing a fear of insulin because of it), but I never stopped getting my hba1c tested. I think I see the diabetic specialist every 12 months at my GP also...

I know they have different severity levels when it comes to diabetics with regard to how they are managing with it and what not but not getting a letter or a call in 12 months is a bit strange.

Maybe giving your diabetic nurse a call and just query it, or ask for an appointment just to see if you are on the right track. 12 month is quite a long time for a newbie without a check up.
 
I think they must have forgotten about me :(. Good job I'm not the sort who goes into denial eh?! Will speak to my GP about being referred to Kings. Not happy with the service I have received locally. The DSN laughed when I asked what my Hba1c was and told me it wasnt something I should be worrying about. Then everyone seems to know what theirs is but me!!!
 
Hi Allison,
I'm not sure if this will help as it may be different for littlies, but my 5 year old was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago.
I have to say that without my fantastic Diabetes Nurse (don't know if that's the right title!) things would have been a bigger struggle. She is superb. So incredibly knowledgeable and at the end of the 'phone for way longer than the average 9 - 5 day.
Sounds like you're not getting the help and support you should be. God knows, it's confusing enough and there's SO much to take in, you need to be able to speak to someone and put your trust in someone who knows what they're on about!
Hope you've caught up with them by now and they're being much better.
x
 
Please do get referred to Kings. My GP supposedly has a diabetes specialist nurse but she keeps getting confused between type 1 & 2!
The team at Kings are fantastic - you should have been seen about every 3 months for the first year and then if stable, you move to every 6 months-ish. I can't believe that they don't think you need to have your hba1c measured - ridiculous.

I've only been diagnosed a little longer than you (Sept 2011), but was 'lucky' enough to be taken to A&E at Kings, so I've been on their books ever since.

You should have had your eyes tested and your feet looked at, as well as blood tests, as far as I understand. Have you seen the list of 15 essential checks from Diabetes UK? http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Our_Views/15-healthcare-essentials/
 
Hi there
Many thanks for your replies. It's nice to hear that I'm not being unduly paranoid about not being seen. I went to see my GP today. She was not particularly sympathetic but said she would refer me to Kings so that I can begin getting properly looked after. She has also arranged for me to have blood tests and find out my HBA1C. She also said that all Type 1s should be on statins automatically. Not being big on medical intervention, I refused them and said that I want to find out my fasting cholesterol first. Is everbody else on statins?
 
Hi allison, definitely not being paranoid!. You should be having a hba1c test every 6 months to give an idea of control over an extended periods of time. You should be registered with a consultant, be sent a reminder to make an appointment to vo to your local hospital for this and to have height, weight and blood pressure monitored. After these test u should see the consultant to discuss how things are on a daily basis and to discuss any concerns. Also you should have a yearly appointment to have your eyes checked. Even when things are going smoothly all the above should be carried out .


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