Referral??

[Lstace]

Your mum's blood glucose levels seem absolutely fine and on track for getting normal Hba1c in the not too distant future.
I am pretty sure that without a meter to check on the effect, that Gliclazide could be dangerous - it hammers insulin out of the pancreas, and it would be illegal to drive without checking levels. If you are reluctant to take the advice of that nurse the non provision of a meter would be a perfect excuse for not taking the tablets.
I am probably rather anti tablet due to my own experiences after diagnosis.
I know that I am lucky to be able to get Hba1c just at the top of normal simply by eating a low carb diet, but I do feel that it ought to be the first thing to try after diagnosis - it is just a pity that so many drs and nurses seem to wilfully ignore any successes brought about by it.

I totally agree that diet and lifestyle should be taken into consideration and that is the way mum wants to progress. It was another alarm bell when the nurse said 'oh, dvsa.....oh not to worry' so she never mentioned anything about driving!!
I'm really not happy about the lack of treatment, empathy and just listening. It seemed like she was on a script that only read...get her on drugs, because she dismissed everything that did not relate to the drugs!

 

[Lstace]

May I ask what country you are in please, as treatment options can vary.

We are In the UK

 

[Lstace]

Hello there Lstace - I see others have already given you lots of information to review, but I'd like to add this link, which many, many new members have found to be useful in their early days after diagnosis.

Thank you

 

[lucylocket61]

Hi, i am here on behalf of my mum who was told she has diabetes type 2, 6 weeks ago.
I am interested to find out how many of you were immediately referred to a hospital to see a specialist?
My mums sugar levels were 101 but she has never seen a specialist and was never told to go back and revisit her doctor, he just gave her tablets and told her to lose weight!
Is this normal????

I have never seen a specialist or been referred to the hospital. I saw my GP once about diabetes, 7 years ago, after i was diagnosed. Since then I see a nurse once or twice a year.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. As others have said, T2s will not be referred beyond the surgery unless there is a good reason. NICE says there should be a further review every 3 months until the BS is stabilised. Having Gliclazide without a better understanding of the overall situation is not ideal. It does force the pancreas to product more insulin and many overweight T2s already have too much. A low-carb diet should be the first approach and then take it from there with a 3 monthly review.

 

[Bluetit1802]

You have been unfortunate to meet or speak to a nurse who has no idea what she is doing. My advice is to forget her and everything she said. Concentrate on carrying on with what you are doing, but do make sure your mum is due for more blood tests in 3 months from the last, and that she is on the list for retinal eye tests and foot checks. (a nurse will do the foot checks).

 

[Lstace]

Thank you all so, so much, you are all amazing and so understanding and informative, unlike a certain 'nurse'.
I tried to speak with the nurse today but she will not speak with me anymore, even though i was at the appointment on tuesday with mum's permission, and she told me to contact her myself if i had any questions???
I'm starting to think something is very, very wrong with this person and possibly confirmed as she has emailed my mum and told her to go for another blood test! Although no mention of whether she should take the gliclazide??

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thank you all so, so much, you are all amazing and so understanding and informative, unlike a certain 'nurse'.
I tried to speak with the nurse today but she will not speak with me anymore, even though i was at the appointment on tuesday with mum's permission, and she told me to contact her myself if i had any questions???
I'm starting to think something is very, very wrong with this person and possibly confirmed as she has emailed my mum and told her to go for another blood test! Although no mention of whether she should take the gliclazide??

Your mum must go for the blood test. I imagine that the nurse will then make her an appointment to discuss the results and the medication. That is what normally happens. You can accompany your mum to see the nurse, and depending on the result of the blood test, ask if she can come off the Gliclazide, or at least, reduce the dose.

 

[DCUKMod]

@Lstace - Unless the nurse has written permission in file from your mother to discuss her care, I can understand why the nurse wouldn't discuss her. That you attended with her on Tuesday doesn't mean your mother is content for you to discuss things when she is not present.

Depending on the blood scores at the time of diagnosis, a repeat blood test is often done shortly after the first, to confirm the diagnosis.

 

[HSSS]

Your mum must go for the blood test. I imagine that the nurse will then make her an appointment to discuss the results and the medication. That is what normally happens. You can accompany your mum to see the nurse, and depending on the result of the blood test, ask if she can come off the Gliclazide, or at least, reduce the dose.

Or if she has been reluctant to start the glicazide before a repeat test this appointment should confirm or refute the need for it to start, in which case the sooner done the better.