Uncontrolled Diabetes

Hi Stillo

You really don't seem to be getting anywhere at all! I'm sorry you have problems with your surgery, but at least they gave you a meter - or did you have to buy it yourself? How are you feeling all this time? do you feel unwell?

Go to your nearest chemist and buy some Ketone sticks. These are used to test for things called ketones in your urine. Next time you have a BG reading in the teens, test your urine. If it tests high for ketones, go to A&E, explain what is happening, and take your figures with you. This may be the quickest way to get any action! (The darker the colour after 15 seconds, the higher the ketones; make a note of where you "scored" so you can tell A&E).

Otherwise, in your place I would write down, very simply, what is concerning you: that you don't understand why such consistently high readings on your meter can lead to an HbA1c of 8 - which is high, though not as high as your meter readings would suggest it should be. Can you print those readings out? Make it a brief, clear note, add the readings, and then take it to your doctor and ask her to read it and to explain it to you.

Say you want to get better control because you know you are running your sugar levels too high, and ask to be referred to the Diabetes Clinic at your local hospital. If she refuses, ask again. If she still refuses, say you are going to make a formal complaint.
That should be done first of all through the Practice Manager, in writing. If you get no joy, approach your local Patients Liaison Service (PALS) and explain your problem to them. You can get their phone number from the surgery, or your local hospital website or switchboard should have it.

You are correct in saying your BG readings arer too high - as a Type 2 you should hardly ever be over 10 (depends what you eat), and ideally you should never be over 7. The recommended blood glucose levels for Type 2 are:

4 - 7 before meals
less than 8.5, 2 hours after.

Controlling the carbohydrate (includes sugars) in the diet helps many of us to stay consistently within these levels. Maybe your diet needs a little tweaking? It is also possible that your meter is unreliable, though this doesn't often happen.

Try the two suggestions above as soon as you can; let us know what happens. In any case, come back - it would be useful to know what your diet is at the moment.

Best of luck!

Viv 8)

I agree with you, Stillo - get down to the GP, and if you have trouble from the receptionist ask for an emergency appointment. If you have too much stressful trouble at the surgery, go to A&E.

The nurse at the surgery should at least have a finger-prick meter so she can test your blood glucose there and then. Take yours along so you can compare on the same drop of blood.

Good luck

Viv 8)