Should I trust my GP?

[Paulie1982]

Hi all just a few questions if I can get any advice.

If my blood sugars spike an hour after I’ve ate but slowly come down 2 to 3 hours after a meal is that normal for a non diabetic. They’ve ranged from 13.3 to 10.3 then slowly come down. If I drink a chai latte with two sugars but no food they hit around the 9 mark.

My doctor did a fasting blood but the nurse didn’t take it first thing in the morning. I done my blood sugar first thing and it was 6.7. I get up between 4am and 6am depending on if I’m at work or doing school run. She took my blood at 9.45 am and the results was 4.9

Anyway I rang my GP for an appointment because I’m not happy with such high blood sugars after food and they had no appointment for five weeks other than a appointment where the GP rings me. So he rang and I was telling him about these spikes and that I take people’s blood sugars for a living so I am doing it correct and I said I don’t have high blood pressure, there’s no diabetes in my family, I’m not over weight.... he then interrupted me and said excuse me but you are overweight and this could be causing your symptoms. (The nurse had done my height and weight last week). Well I was so upset I had to end the call he said I had a BMI of 27. I exercise regular and never eat chocolate or fizzy drinks or crisps. I eat a balanced diet and I work long hours on my feet. So I rang the receptionist at my doctors and the nurse had put in my height as 5ft instead of 5ft 7 and my BMI is actually 20. He said he would re test at some point in June but should I go to another GP surgery as I don’t really trust my doctor anymore.

 

[Deleted Account]

Many people on this forum with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes manage it with a low carb diet.
You do not need a doctor's diagnosisvor permission to follow this diet.
If you are concerned by your post meal BG readings, perhaps you could reduce your carbs (e.g a chai latte will be s high carb drink but could be replaced by a black chai) to reduce the risk of diabetes.

 

[urbanracer]

I think we would all feel let down if our medical team made a simple mistake like this. But for me, the bottom line is 'they are only human' , they're not infallible and mistakes can and do happen.

I often feel with things like this, that the issue is not about the mistake itself, but the steps that are taken to correct it and whether it's corrected efficiently. If it were me, I'd give them a chance to sort it out, your next GP may not be any better anyway.

 

[Paulie1982]

Many people on this forum with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes manage it with a low carb diet.
You do not need a doctor's diagnosisvor permission to follow this diet.
If you are concerned by your post meal BG readings, perhaps you could reduce your carbs (e.g a chai latte will be s high carb drink but could be replaced by a black chai) to reduce the risk of diabetes.

I will try to follow a low as possible carb diet also I hadn’t realised a chai latte was high carb (my bad) I just assumed I made it bad by putting two sugars in. Is it because of the milk? I don’t have milk or sugar in anything else. Surely we need some form of calcium for bones? It must be so difficult to actually find a healthy balance

 

[Prem51]

Hi @Paulie1982. I wasn't happy about the GP I was first registered with 20 years ago, and never saw that GP again - though she was supposed to be the diabetes specialist at the surgery. I have seen other GPs since then.
If there are other GPs at your surgery you can ask to see any of them, not neccesarily the GP you are registered to.

 

[Paulie1982]

I think we would all feel let down if our medical team made a simple mistake like this. But for me, the bottom line is 'they are only human' , they're not infallible and mistakes can and do happen.

I often feel with things like this, that the issue is not about the mistake itself, but the steps that are taken to correct it and whether it's corrected efficiently. If it were me, I'd give them a chance to sort it out, your next GP may not be any better anyway.

Mistakes do happen I e worked for the NHS for 15 years and I adore our NHS I’m just sad the direction it’s going. However I don’t agree with the new telephone appointment with my GP as if we was face to face he would see that I’m not over weight. (If he had to give medication he would have been going by my BMI and that would have had dangerous consequences in some people and some medications) so phone appointments are a no no for me but that’s just my opinion.

 

[Paulie1982]

Hi @Paulie1982. I wasn't happy about the GP I was first registered with 20 years ago, and never saw that GP again - though she was supposed to be the diabetes specialist at the surgery. I have seen other GPs since then.
If there are other GPs at your surgery you can ask to see any of them, not neccesarily the GP you are registered to.

Unfortunately it’s a surgery run by my GP and his wife. His wife is amazing but I think most of the patients think the same but she only works two mornings a week. I think I will be going to a new GP I can actually speak to face to face. My partners GP give out appointments on that day but you won’t be guaranteed the same doctor. I’m fine with that as long as I can see someone face to face

 

[Deleted Account]

I will try to follow a low as possible carb diet also I hadn’t realised a chai latte was high carb (my bad) I just assumed I made it bad by putting two sugars in. Is it because of the milk? I don’t have milk or sugar in anything else. Surely we need some form of calcium for bones? It must be so difficult to actually find a healthy balance

Yes, milk is carby.
However, not all dairy products are high carb. Many people on the forum have cream in their tea and eat Greek yoghurt with berries as a low carb breakfast.
I do not follow a low carb diet as, having type 1, I am able to match the carbs with insulin. But there are lots of discussions around the topic on the forum ... which is where I have learnt the little I know.
I recommend taking a look at the diet sub-forum

 

[Brunneria]

Why not write a letter, and ask for it to be scanned into your notes.

Explain the mistake in your recorded height. Explain that his attitude over the phone was unfortunate and unhelpful, and that this makes you concerned for the quality of treatment.
Explain that BMI is NOT INTENDED to be taken as a way to diagnose weight issues over the phone, and that even if you were 'overweight' the majority of obese people are not type 2 diabetics, so his assumptions and interpretations are inappropriate.

I think I might quite enjoy writing that letter.

 

[Emile_the_rat]

If you have gotten a fasting bg of 6.7 mmol and random readings over 11.2 mmol more than two times I would say you’re pre-diabetic.

I only agree with you doctor if it just happened once.