Just joined forum today so not sure how this will go but, I was diagnosed diabetic about five years ago although at that time I already had quite advanced Neuropathy which has just steadily got worse over the years so judging by the way I've felt for years I would imaging I've been diabetic for a lot longer. But since official diagnosis I've kept a very good daily blood glucose log using Excel. Before I go on too much, from those records I can clearly see there is now a steady trend upwards no matter what I do I'm finding it next to impossible to keep below 7mmol/L even with eating nothing BG will start around 7mmol/L in the morning and be about 9mmol/L in the evening. I do eat regularly normally but for the sake of tests I have chosen on occasion not to. My problem is what do others do about getting Hba1c test? because in five years I've only been summoned twice to see the Diabetes Nurse for this test and seen my doctor about the same number of times for unrelated issues. Do I just become a complete nuisance and demand a test every three months or so, I'm completely at a loss I'm not one to grumble but after five years I'm beginning to feel somewhat cast aside, here's your pills goodbye so to speak, what do I do?
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Puzzlement
- Thread starter Treforj
- Start Date
Daibell
Master
Hi If you have been officially diagnosed as a diabetic by your surgery then you are entitled to a list of around 15 things at least annually and you should insist on an Hba1c test at least annually as one of the items on the list. See the Diabetes.org.uk website or NICE/NHS diabetes websites for details. If your surgery doesn't react well to this then ask for a referal to your local diabetes clinic or even change GP. At my surgery I ask for a 'diabetes' appointment for which 30 minutes is allocated and at the consultation my diabetes GP/nurse tells me to book my next appointment in 1 year if things are OK or in 3/6 months if the Hba1c is drifting up with an associated form to get the blood and urine test done prior to the consultation.
Thanks Daibell for replying.
I did visit the two websites recommended although I didn't specifically find any lists as such, I did find further useful information. I don't mean to sound so cynical but my last consultation with the diabetes nurse about four months ago was the second in five years well far from being thirty minutes, it was reduced to step on the scales, any feet problem? with barely a glance away from the computer screen I swear I could have been anybody, and there was almost a look of annoyance when I asked for my Hba1c, the whole experience lasted about five minutes without exaggeration. I came away with the feeling of the old adage "When you take command old boy, you're on your own" so basically I guess that's what it amounts to. Anyway I didn't join this forum just to moan about my local surgary but I do find it scary the huge amount of indifference. Thanks again Diabell for your help, I think perhaps it was a case of me expecting too much beyond the free prescription card which arrived alongside my bus pass LOL!
I did visit the two websites recommended although I didn't specifically find any lists as such, I did find further useful information. I don't mean to sound so cynical but my last consultation with the diabetes nurse about four months ago was the second in five years well far from being thirty minutes, it was reduced to step on the scales, any feet problem? with barely a glance away from the computer screen I swear I could have been anybody, and there was almost a look of annoyance when I asked for my Hba1c, the whole experience lasted about five minutes without exaggeration. I came away with the feeling of the old adage "When you take command old boy, you're on your own" so basically I guess that's what it amounts to. Anyway I didn't join this forum just to moan about my local surgary but I do find it scary the huge amount of indifference. Thanks again Diabell for your help, I think perhaps it was a case of me expecting too much beyond the free prescription card which arrived alongside my bus pass LOL!
Carbdodger
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 102
Hi there
have you read around here to see what folks do to control their db?
What do you do? Maybe if you let us know what you eat on a daily basis it could help explain the high numbers.
Why not make a nuisance at your gp? You are a customer. And yes you should have an hba1c at least annually. More often if high.
Support is here if you ask.
Cd
have you read around here to see what folks do to control their db?
What do you do? Maybe if you let us know what you eat on a daily basis it could help explain the high numbers.
Why not make a nuisance at your gp? You are a customer. And yes you should have an hba1c at least annually. More often if high.
Support is here if you ask.
Cd
))Denise((
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,594
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
I'm off for my annual review next week. I had blood and urine samples taken a couple of weeks ago. At this appointment I will see the nurse and the doctor at my GP surgery. Usually at the appointment the nurse will
weigh me
take my blood pressure
check my feet with the filament thing
check my eyesight with a graduated letter chart
ask if I'm depressed
I then go and see the doctor who will tell me my HbA1c result and any others that I ask for and have a general chat about how I am getting on.
When I phoned the surgery to get all this set up, I was told that they don't send out reminders any more for diabetic annual reviews, so I will check this, as I'd prefer to have my annual review in October/November. This may be the case with your surgery Treforj.
This is a link to the 15 things that Daibell mentioned http://www.diabetes.org.uk/upload/About ... cklist.pdf
weigh me
take my blood pressure
check my feet with the filament thing
check my eyesight with a graduated letter chart
ask if I'm depressed
I then go and see the doctor who will tell me my HbA1c result and any others that I ask for and have a general chat about how I am getting on.
When I phoned the surgery to get all this set up, I was told that they don't send out reminders any more for diabetic annual reviews, so I will check this, as I'd prefer to have my annual review in October/November. This may be the case with your surgery Treforj.
This is a link to the 15 things that Daibell mentioned http://www.diabetes.org.uk/upload/About ... cklist.pdf
Thanks to all for replying and dare I say with risk of having things thrown at me, happy new year!
Denise thanks for the link to that list, I have that pdf now and it has definitely put the very few random communications I've had over the last five years from my surgery in perspective, it seems more likely than not now that they are doing the same with reminders, because my last Hba1c test came about by accident, they called me in for my annual flu jab and noticed that I hadn't been tested for a few years so took samples there and then and booked me an appointment to see the DB nurse, but I definitely hadn't received any reminders, so in future I'll make those appointments myself.
And to carbdodger I have to confess my diet is not the best and leaves a lot to be desired and would make sorry reading if I was to post it here but what I do eat, I'm really aware of, it's GI index and G load rating etc and I do test and log my BG levels quite often so I tend to loosely base my days feasting on my BG start level in the morning and watch what I eat through the day. As far as excercise goes, well this time of year it's basically nonexistent, sad I know but I keep saying I really must do something more about it other than just keeping my old bicycle well oiled in the shed, and watching old movies. Thanks again to all :wink:
Denise thanks for the link to that list, I have that pdf now and it has definitely put the very few random communications I've had over the last five years from my surgery in perspective, it seems more likely than not now that they are doing the same with reminders, because my last Hba1c test came about by accident, they called me in for my annual flu jab and noticed that I hadn't been tested for a few years so took samples there and then and booked me an appointment to see the DB nurse, but I definitely hadn't received any reminders, so in future I'll make those appointments myself.
And to carbdodger I have to confess my diet is not the best and leaves a lot to be desired and would make sorry reading if I was to post it here
but what I do eat, I'm really aware of, it's GI index and G load rating etc and I do test and log my BG levels quite often so I tend to loosely base my days feasting on my BG start level in the morning and watch what I eat through the day. As far as excercise goes, well this time of year it's basically nonexistent, sad I know but I keep saying I really must do something more about it other than just keeping my old bicycle well oiled in the shed, and watching old movies. Thanks again to all :wink: