What should happen at the first appointment?

[Selkieone]

Hello, this forum is informative and seems super supportive! I'm just reading through information for newly diagnosed members and had some questions.

I am not diabetic, my partner got a letter on Christmas Eve telling him he is (type 2). The letter instructed him to make an appointment with his GP which he did. At the appointment he was told he should lose weight, eat better and exercise more. The doctor said he didn't need medication at present, gave him Diabetes UK website address and told him to come back in 3 months time. My question is should something else happen? Should he be referred to the local Diabetic clinic and should he be monitoring his glucose levels? He was given no further info and didn't think to ask. Is this because he doesn't need medication or should he go back and ask more questions?

He's not been feeling great for months and is still feeling all over the place and I'm just concerned that we can't deal with it if we don't know what his level etc are. Any help or advice appreciated
Thank you

 

[Clivethedrive]

Hello Selkieone,the experience you describe is probalbly what happens to most of us.....it did to me too, but i made further apptmts with my doc ' and explained that i wanted to monitor my bs's ,so i was given strips only on prescription,i had to buy my own meter,anyway on subsequent visits my doc has acknowledged my good control of my bs and my weight loss ,now i'm tested for bs and foot neuropathy and bp,and was sent to eye hospital for retinal scans yearly.
The very best thing he can do is post regularly here and all q's will be answered by the wonderful posters here,
I will ask @daisy1 for the welcome pack for your partner, most successful posters here lchf, you will learn about this as an effective way to control bs's, well done to you for being so supportive,clive

 

[Prem51]

Hi @Selkieone and welcome to the forum. The support/advice on being diagnosed as diabetic seems to vary from GP to GP.
I suppose it depends on their local budgets which are under pressure. My GP referred me to the practice nurse for foot test and some basic advice - avoid sugar, control portion size, and eat 5 portions of fruit/veg per day. I was also referred to a diabetes management course for newly diagnosed diabetics (DESMOND), I was fortunate to get a cancelled place within days, it seems there is a waiting list in most areas. I was also referred for eye test, but still haven't heard anything from the hospital four months later.

Assuming your GP isn't a sole practice, there should be a GP there who specialises in diabetes. I suggest your partner asks at reception who the diabetic specialist GP is, and makes an appointment to see him/her. He should also ask for his results as he needs to know where he is starting from.

I was also told by my GP I wouldn't need medication and to control my blood sugar levels by diet and exercise, which I did, bringing my HbA1c down from 49 on diagnosis to 44 at my 3 month retest. I didn't use a meter, but have bought one last week as I think I should know how my levels are going and won't be retested until August/September.