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Should I be annoyed or am I overreacting?

Propertyoflife

Active Member
Messages
33
Location
Glasgow
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi,

Just wondered what you guys think about this before I decide what to do...

As I posted in the 'Ask The Experts' thread, I was originally diagnosed as a type 2 but as my blood sugar levels got higher, my GP became concerned that I may be a type 1.

A couple of weekends ago, I felt unwell and was sick. I then checked my blood sugar levels and they were 27.8, I was sleepy and felt awful. So I called NHS24 who advised me to go and see the out of hours doctor at my local hospital, which I did.
When I got there I explained how I flet and that my blood sugars had been high. The doctor asked what type I was and if I was insulin dependant. I explained the situation there. He then asked how I knew my blood sugar was high. I explained to him that my nurse had told me to check my blood sugar levels three times a day until my appointment to see the GP again which was in three days time. The OOHD laughed and told me I had to relax, I was only a type two therefore didnt need to check my blood sugar levels and if I really felt the need I should only test once or twice a month for my own piece of mind. He asked how my mood had been and i explained the night before I had been quite tearful and my blood sugars were 29.3. He asked how long I had been tearful and i explained for about half an hour. He asked if I had ever been diagnosed with depression. I explained I had. He told me this was completely unrelated. He then proceeded to tell me that high blod sugars were of no concern to a type 2 diabetic and chould certainly not be treated as an emergency or cause for alarm. I was informed that type two diabetes was not a concern and would present me with no problems, it was infact more of an inconvenience than a problem.
He then tested my urine which was fine and took my blood sugars which were 25.6. He informed me that I really should put this type of diabetes out of my mind and stop being concerned with it. However, he advised I should go and see about my 'depression'. I explained the feeling I had was nothing like how I felt when I was depressed and that it had been treated. He then told me that the dperession had perhaps got worse and that it was not my diabetes that was the issue but rather that I might have a mental condition which made me believe it was...rather childishly I was in tears by the time I left, feeling extremely stupid and still rather unwell.

The next weekend I was reluctant to call NHS24 and when I was told I had to go to OOH I initially refused based upon the previous consultation.
I'm glad I eventually went, considering I was in hospital for 5 days and rediagnosed.

I'm really really angry about this now and I am (again) concerned I am overreacting - Is this the case? I wonder if I should complain but wanted to see if you guys thought this kind of thing was ok first, because to be honest, I dont know very much about it.

Thanks (apologies for the lengthy post!)
 
Yes, be angry, very angry, and complain in the strongest terms.

Regards, Tubs
 
It's totally shocking that a doctor should give you this sort of advice faced with blood sugars at that level.Document everything you can remember,names ,times anyone who may have heard this conversation and ,,,yes,,,,complain!!!
 
As someone who was misdiagnosed with Type 2 myself 5 years ago and only correctly diagnosed last September, I perfectly understand your anger. I'm still on the waiting list to do my surgery changeover but as soon as that is done I intend putting pen to paper. It's not good enough to be treated like this and my readings were no where near as high as yours were.
Make your voice heard. Until we speak up, things like this will go on happening.
 
Absolutely complain, its ******** scandalous.

Any GP should know that a bg of 25 is dangerous to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics (DKA and HKA respectively). As for telling you not to worry about your type? He is an absolute ignoramus and an affront to decent GPs everywhere. Without being too blunt or scary, if you had gone into a coma (and btw, to run sugars that high for a week more.........) and something had happened, any enquiry would have highlighted this right away and hauled his sorry ass over the coals, quite rightly.Especially if you told him your GP thinks you might be type 1.

Complain. No two ways about it.

L

PS; what did he check your urine for? If you have been rediagnosed, with a bg of 25 plus did he not notice any ketones?
 
I had no idea what he checked for. He just said he wanted to check it and came back with the response that there was nothing to worry about.
 
Hi Propertyoflife.
I am sorry that you have had such a dreadful experience.
As all posters have said, you must complain, they cannot be allowed to get away with this.
Make sure that you log everything that has happened , including phone calls and keep a copy of every letter that you write. If you find it daunting to complain then use the Citizen's Advice Bureau as well as PALS that tubs recommended. I find that it is better to go straight to the top as then the complaint cannot be ignored and it cascades down into every department concerned. The N.H.S. is very structured so you need to start at the top.
Regards, Catherine.
 
Hi POL,
You are fully justified in feeling very upset, imo. It is terrifying, isn't it, to think that there are (how many??!) idiot doctors out there, spouting rubbish, putting people's lives at risk and making those same people feel as if they are both a nuisance and have mental problems. It infuriates me :x .

I think you should complain, but be prepared for it to be emotionally draining and a lengthy process. I speak from experience here! But stick to your guns and remember that you have right on your side. And maybe your actions will help save some other poor unsuspecting person from the ineptitude of the same doctor(s).

Good luck.
Sue
 
I'd complain if I was treated like that.
 
Yu need to complain. I think I suggested T1 to you at the time and if I can spot it( Retired Science teacher, ) there's no excuse for a doctor's not even checking.
I think it's a feature of the "Blame Game"
In other words, T2 is a lifestyle disease and your own fault, T2 is "Mild" and just wastes NHS resources.
T1 is only contracted by children. You are adult( are you overweight? ), so you must be T2.
It's unacceptable!
please complain if only to give this doctor a Wake-up. The details of your visit to the Out of Hours service is on their computer.
Did the OOH service even check your blood sugar? they should have done so,as soon as you said you were diabetic.
 
I am overweight but not massively so, my BMI is 25.8 and im a size 10.
He did check my sugar levels but said regardless of how high they were, they weren't anything to be concerned with as I was 'only a type 2'.

Thanks for everyone's replies - I spoke to my GP this afternoon about how I complain and I am currently composing a letter detalining the consultation.
 
You MUSt as Tubs wrote, because this doctor needs to go on a course at least. He/she should really know there's nothing "only" about T2. It's true things tend to happen more slowly, but they are just as dangerous.
I wish you well with it.
I'm fighting a bus lane infringement at the moment and have just won one over a TV breakdown. I'm not aggressive. I just don't give up.
 
hanadr said:
I'm fighting a bus lane infringement at the moment ...
Click to expand...
Only buses, taxis & cyclists are allowed in bus lanes - not walkers :wink:

Hope you win - its expensive. :evil:
 
i too would be very annoyed and yes complain and stamp your feet
 
To call this guy a clueless fsckwit would be an insult to all clueless fsckwits everywhere.

What's his name, Shipman?
 
Complain Complain complain.
My late son Deceased 18/12/05 type 1 diabetic for 27 yrs- had an ulcer on his foot early 2005.
it must have healed with infection inside. September 2nd 2005 Left below knee amoutation-he had been complaing of pain in his left heel since March 2005.he was discharged to a care home Nov 2005
his assesment was done by someone with no knowledge of diabetis-His blood sugars that day were hyperglycaemic am-hypoglycaemic pm and back to hyperin the evening. He was also end stage renal failure needing dialysis. He died in the Care home because staff did not get medical assistance-the saw him drinking exceesive fluids(which is OK normally when Hyper ) but not for him as it would put his blood pressure Up- Post mortem blood sugar 65.2 mmols.
An inquest was held. Statements from hospital staff made him out to be non compliant- they spoke to him when he was either hyp or hyper. they said he was always eating sweets- renal dietician told him to suck sugar free sweets to aid saliva due to restriceted fluids and medications that caused dry mouth. He would have needed "Candies" in case of hypo,s-. When I asked one senior nurse when she had an update in diabetis she said she was taught about it when she did her training- which must have been along time ago.Seeing as she was in a senior role.
Three years down the line i am still complaining nearing third stage complaint about the care home
(council owned) His single point of assesment form for discharge stated needs blood sugars monitoring-ulcer on right heel requires dressing every two to three days- May need District nurse to monitor Blood sugars.
He had his rt heel dressed until the 15th Nov 2005-no record of nurse visiting again until 15th Dec 2005. he had ketoacidosis on the 20th Nov and was hospitilized until the 22nd- admitted to Leicester Hosp on the 24th Nov 2005 because of infection in his perma cath-reason for hyper?ketoacidosis- so DNurse visits should have been done some time between the 15th Nov and the 24th Nov. again in December discharged from Leicester December 13th heel dressed the 15th no further visits- he died the 18th December 2005. No arrangements had been mad to monitor his blood sugars.
Complain Complain Complain. may get you nowhere-but in the meantime some people are feeling very uncomfotable.!!
 
Bigsly, my heart goes out to you about your son. I wish you all the best and that your complaint does not fall on deaf ears. That is truly appaling!

I too would complain. I guess it depends what you want to achieve by your complaint? Education of the numpty Dr, compensation? If it is the former, it is worth stressing this I guess.
reading this site has taught me a lot about the differences and similarities between the various "types". I used to think that I knew, and it was fairly simple...but now I at least understand that I don't realy know at all! The Dr concerned would do better to admit this too, rather than talk absolute twosh. A BG of 26 is bad, whatever type you are..I am amazed that this is not known by all medical staff.

In my own experience, the diabetes care by heath care staff has ranged from great to awful. i once was waiting for an operation, was nil by mouth, and the op was delayed....for several hours. The ward staff would not let me eat, when I tested my bloodsugar and found I was hypo...one even accused me of being greedy. They then removed my meter, as I was not allowed to self medicate :shock: It was only when the anethiatist came round, and I was so hypo, I couldn't make myself understood, that they sorted themselves out. (Hana, yup, our favourite hospital strikes again!) I should have complained, but they did at least acknowledge the mistake, and the staff concerned got a real roasting, so I didn't thinkthat it was necessary...but in your case...COMPLAIN!!!

(On the plus side, one GP recognised instantlythat I was Hyper, and sent me straight to the relevant ward in the local hosital who could help...thanks to him, I am still hear to learn from that stupid, stupid mistake!)
 
Sounds like this so called doctor put on a white coat with no training at all, I bet he cant even spell Diabetes.
I bet even a cleaner would be better than him.
MAKE A COMPLAINT, AND SHOUT ABOUT IT LOUD AND CLEAR, I would beleve me.
Graham1441.
 
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