Type 2 "Specialist Diabetic Nurse"

I haven’t been seen by a nurse but I’m lucky my GP agrees that low carb eating has my diabetes very well controlled. He told me I didn’t need to test so wouldn’t prescribe strips but looked interestedly at one of the graphs in my blood sugar app in my iPhone on my last visit!

I have a very supportive GP who specialises in diabetes so very fortunate. I’m only recently diagnosed T2 steroid induced.
However I am disillusioned with the specialist diabetic nurses. I feel they totally lack understanding, well over the phone that’s how it seems. I’ve have a appointment on 17th April with them so will see what that is like.
One thing I asked them was about being weighed, as I need to have sit on scales (I’m not able to stand) and was abruptly told ‘we don’t weigh people in our clinic’...

I have an excellent team of Diabetic Nurses who provide support. Much of the support is over the phone with some face to face. This support kicked in when I was commenced on insulin.

I have a very supportive GP who specialises in diabetes so very fortunate. I’m only recently diagnosed T2 steroid induced.
However I am disillusioned with the specialist diabetic nurses. I feel they totally lack understanding, well over the phone that’s how it seems. I’ve have a appointment on 17th April with them so will see what that is like.
One thing I asked them was about being weighed, as I need to have sit on scales (I’m not able to stand) and was abruptly told ‘we don’t weigh people in our clinic’...

I have very a supportive GP and specialist diabetes nurse. The nurse toes the company line a bit more than the GP. I saw the GP yesterday and she fully supports low carb saying "it works for Ken Berry". My blood pressure is too low now (due to weight loss and exercise) so she got very excited at the prospect of stopping the medication. And she isn't bothered by my high cholesterol - she will review in 6 months. She has approved another HbA1c in 3 months time and allowed me on-line access to my results. I couldn't be happier! And she prescribes me 50 test strips a month. She said I don't really need to see the DN again becasue I am so well controlled but they need to tick boxes and tickle feet! She is amazing and I appreciate how lucky I am!

My DSN, who is very nice, sees me every 6 months and takes my blood for a HbA1c test, takes my blood pressure, tests my feet and that's about it. Luckily my GP seems much better aware of what's what as far as recent developments in treatment of diabetes are concerned and will discuss my results, diet and medication very much as a two way dialogue.

After 27 yrs I've met 2 DSN's. The first on day 2 of diagnosis, the second a few weeks back.
The first was a godsend. I was down to visit GP surgery nurse but DSN at local hospital stepped in and invited me to spend day with her. I learnt a hell of a lot that day.
The second was a lovely lady and the meeting a little bit surreal. After my 6 monthly check up my consultant asked if I would come in to see DSN and discuss my recently purchased Dexcom. Arrived to see DSN feeling a bit apprehensive. The meeting was a total joy and I think the DSN took far more away from the meeting than I did. We had a wonderful chat, relaxed and open.
The meeting ended with a question that left me gobsmacked and feeling 10 ft tall.
In summary my experiences with DSN' s is limited but they get 10/10 from me.

thingybobby said:

Has anyone else NEVER been seen by one, during their "treatment"

I'm increasingly disillusioned by the poor standard of aftercare from my GP, who today suggested I didn't need to test my blood sugar and that I was being "over prescribed"!

My Hb1ac was 38, up from 32, over EIGHT months ago.

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Are you on any medication? If not then your HbA1c is not even pre-diabetic so not surprising you are not seeing a specialist.

therower said:

The meeting ended with a question that left me gobsmacked and feeling 10 ft tall.

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spill the beans!

slip said:

spill the beans!

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I could never do that.
But, we may meet again in the future and we'll be looking for alternative injection sites.

thingybobby said:

Has anyone else NEVER been seen by one, during their "treatment"

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Me.

My original GP who gave me the diagnosis knew as much about T2D as I do about Nuclear Fusion, I didn't see a nurse at all at that practice. After I moved to York for 12 months I didn't have the "pleasure" of meeting my GP, but I did see the Practice Nurse who was very keen, and was amazed by my results as she had never heard of anyone achieving such low levels, and after she had a chat with a GP decided that I was "resolved". I'm now in West London, and havn't seen a nurse, but my new GP is equally as confused by my results, so has had me give blood for 2 HbA1c's and made me undertake an OGTT. I have the results of those, but so far heard nothing from the GP although I am looking forward to a telephone "appointment" next Monday which will no doubt be as exasperating as all my conversations with medical professionals seem to be.