NOT QUITE A NEWBEE BUT CONFUSED

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.

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 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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