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What to expect from the NHS?

N

niblue

Well-Known Member
Messages
145
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
My diabetes diagnosis wasn't the most straightforward because when I was referred onto the diabetes nurse after a very high (108) hb1ac the NHS systems were down so she didn't have access to my test results etc. So the initial advice was to wait 3 months for a re-test, then changed (via a phone call) to asking me to book a re-test straight away once the system was back up and she'd seen my results, to an immediate prescription for Metformin once she'd spoken to a doctor.

So I've now been on Metformin for a week (still 1 x 500mg tablet per day, rising to 2 x 500mg after another week), but haven't had anything else since and there are no follow-ups etc. scheduled (or even any discussion on scheduling anything). Is that normal, or should I be expecting more?

Thanks
Steve
 
niblue said:
Is that normal, or should I be expecting more?

Thanks
Steve
Click to expand...
When first diagnosed I was told the following would happen:

1) I would have an annual diabetic eye screening and I'd be contacted with an appointment
2) I would have an annual hand and feet check to check my sensation/feeling
3) I would be given details of support - it ended up being an online resource as face to face was not possible then

I was also referred to a consultant I think due to the high level of my blood glucose (quite a bit higher than yours). Once my blood sugars came down the referral ended.

(1), (2) and (3) did happen and I think are, or should be, standard practice (in the UK).

One of the things I did immediately was to stop eating anything with sugar and eliminating carbohydrates from my diet as I had learned from this forum and other places that was effective for many new T2s. It made sense not least because if sugars and carbohydrates (actually sugar is a type of carbohydrate) are being consumed and raise blood sugar, reducing or eliminating them seemed common sense. My blood sugar did reduce quickly at first and then at a more moderate rate of reduction.

I would suggest contacting your GP to ask what support you since nothing of the above was mentioned, but I think you'll find really useful information on this forum.
 
I possibly should have mentioned that based on my own research I've just switched to a low carb diet - just started yesterday (57g of carbs) in fact. I've also stopped taking sugar in my coffee.

I'm planning to schedule a follow-up appointment but I think it'd be useful to understand what good looks like before I do that.
 
Also, if you're in England, it's useful to know that as a diabetic on medication, you can get a medical exemption certificate for your prescriptions. I seem to remember you're in Scotland, so I'm not sure of the regime there. I did get my foot check and my eye test referral, but that took about 6 months. I had to remind the Doctor for a follow-up HbA1c after 3 months - he'd forgotten. After that, I seemed to have been added to the "list", so my next appointment for a HbA1c was just sent to me.
 
I am indeed in Scotland so prescriptions are free.

I'm definitely going to arrange a follow-up with the diabetes nurse in the next few weeks as I think doing that again, with her actually having access to my info this time, is likely to be the best way forward.
 
Some movement today as I've now had a letter asking me to setup an appointment with the retinopathy clinic, so at least something is happening.
 
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