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What's the procedure?

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Pegasus25

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Hi. My husband has had type 1 diabetes since he was 3 and we've just pretty much found out his little brother has diabetes too. The thing is he saw the doctor last Friday and they sent him for blood tests which were done Monday, it took a week for the results to come back to the doctors and then all the receptionist said was that he needed to make an appointment with the diabetic nurse and her earliest available slot is almost 2 weeks away.

As a child with newly diagnosed diabetes who is on no treatment, would they not see him a bit more urgently? Would he not see a doctor first? Seems to be risking his health to me, but I don't know what the normal procedure is. Any info would be appreciated!
 
We were told to go to A&E immediately when our kids were first diagnosed. If it is type 1 then a child can become very illl pretty quickly so they really need to be seen now.
 
Thank you. Would you know if there is any reason they wouldn't see him urgently? The receptionists at our doctors are so rude and when I phoned for the results she literally said that the notes from the blood tests said to make an appointment with the diabetic nurse. Would they delay is if it's type 2? (I don't know how likely that is considering his dad and brother have type 1) As he is 15 do they assume he can cope better than a young child and therefore wait longer? Is there a chance he doesn't have diabetes but they want him to see a diabetic nurse anyway? I know that all probably sounds stupid but I just can't understand what they're doing. We've been testing his blood sugar with my husbands kit and it's consistantly been 12-19 so can't see how he wouldn't have it!
 
When they eventually figured out what was wrong with me (T1 aged 14) I was rushed to hospital and put on a drip for several days. I had been really sick in bed for the previous 2 weeks and ended up suffering DKA.

If your brother-in-law shows any signs of DKA you should get him to A&E quickly. Easiest way to tell is if his breath smells of pear drops or nail polish remover (acetone).
 
If his dad and brother are both type I then I would suggest at the age of 15 he is highly likely to be type I himself... in which cases waiting a further two weeks is potentially dangerous to his health. Frankly I would make a fuss... I would phone up and if the diagnosis is type I then he needs to be seen straight away... make a fuss until he is... if he isn't then I would suggest you look at contacting the diabetes centre at your local hospital most trusts have one.

When I was diagnosed at 17 I was at the doctors surgery in the morning and two hours later at the diabetes specialist centre at the hospital to learn how to use insulin / etc...

In all honesty I find it shocking that if he is type I (and being 15, with type I in the family its the more than likely) that they are waiting two weeks... if a doctor has made this decision at the surgery then god help us... I think more than likely a doctor hasn't and its been made by a receptionist whose booking an appointment and doesn't understand the urgency.
 
Absolutely do not wait another 2 weeks, that is not acceptable especially if your recorded readings are as high as 19mmol/l. When my daughter was diagnosed we were sent to A&E immediately, told to go home only to pack an overnight bag and then go straight to the hospital. Her BG reading was higher than 19mmol/l (it was off scale for the hand held test kit so we're not sure what it was) and she had ketones but even still I don't think this child should be waiting a further 2 weeks for a DRs appointment. I agree with the others make a fuss, his condition could become very serious very quickly if he has type 1 and is not given insulin.
 
What Pneu said, push to see a Doc today. I was diagnosed with an HBA1C of 12.6 and suspicion of LADA or type 1 slow onset. From the outset I have been able to see or speak to a GP on the same day I ring. Seeing an endocrinologist around here is a different kettle of fish entirely and our health insurance paid for that.

No way should he wait another two weeks with the family history especially.

Ali
 
Also wanted to ask, did they test him for ketones at all? And if it is diagnosed as type 1 diabetes then I would write a formal complaint about this to your surgery as being told to wait 2 weeks for an appointment is not acceptable.
 
Can't say anymore than the others. But can I just say I am absolutely appalled at the treatment meted out by GP's and the receptionists, if this forum is anything to go by they need a **** good shakeup.
 
Agree with everyone else. I wasn't a child when diagnosed, wasn't in the UK either. I had a fasting test one day, the results were faxed to the GP . I saw him again at 10am next morning, he talked to the consultant on the phone and by midday I was in a hospital bed on an insulin pump.
 
When I was diagnosed I was phoned by my surgery as soon as the got my blood results back, and told me to go hospital...

The only thing I can think of is because their is already 2 Type 1's in the family that it's been picked up very early, but with saying that I would be making a appointment with the GP now, and asking about results etc..
 
Thank you all. My husband had a word with his doctor today and he managed to get an appointment with a GP tomorrow for his brother (there is usually at least a one week wait for non-emergency appointments so sounds like it may be being taken a bit more seriously). I definitely think I should do a complaint. I'll wait until tomorrow to see what the blood tests actually picked up, but if it is T1 diabetes then I'm sure this counts as medical negligence.
 
Glad to here your getting a sooner appointment." weeks seems like a dangerous amount of time to wait to me.

I went into the GPs for some blood tests in the morning, not at that point suspecting type 1.Was told to ring in a week for the results.I was phoned by the hospital at 9pm that evening and told to come in straight away .I asked if it could wait till morning, as the kids were in bed :crazy: and was very firmly told no, I must go now and I must not drive myself. They then asked for my DH and again stressed the importance of coming in straight away.
 
An appointment tomorrow is better than waiting 2 weeks but please keep an eye on the boy and if he gets any worse or shows syptoms of vomiting or rapid breathing please take him straight to A&E. Do you have any means of testing his blood for ketones? If your husband is type 1 he might (or should) have a ketone test kit. Make sure the boy is drinking plenty of sugar free fluids as dehydration would be a worry too.
 
An appointment in two weeks :shock:





Pleased the lad is getting seen tomorrow Pegasus!
 
I would take him to A&E now and they can out him on insulin immediately. He must be feeling very poorly with levels that high and it is not good for his body.

I am disgusted by the advice you have been given by Dr's. I know of too many children who have had type 1 which was misdiagnosed.
 
noblehead said:
An appointment in two weeks :shock:





Pleased the lad is getting seen tomorrow Pegasus!
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I wholeheartedly agree Nigel.2 weeks wait would have been shocking and dangerous in these circumstances! :shock:
 
Glad you've managed to get your BIL into the docs tomorrow..

Re-reading your OP, you don't actually say whether the receptionist phoned you or whether you phoned for the results! Which way around it was will make a difference to the complaint to be put in after you've got the results tomorrow!

Because the results would have been checked by a GP at the practice before it goes onto the medicals.. S/he would then inform the receptionist whether the patient needs calling in, and whether this is urgent so needs a phone call or whether a letter will do because the patient needs to be seen but it's not urgent!

So finding out whether the doctor didn't pass the correct information to the receptionist or whether the receptionist didn't take information on board concerning the urgency of getting the patient back into the surgery!

Another area, if you phoned the receptionist then she may know that xxx means diabetic, but not have realised the seriousness to be seen ASAP etc... Which also needs to be addressed by the surgery
 
I phoned them, had been phoning every day since Wednesday! On Thursday they said if the results weren't in by the next day then they'd chase them up, so Friday came and still no results, they said they'd chase the lab and to phone back Monday. None of this has been handled with any urgency which has surprised me. It would only make sense that they'd be so laid back if he didn't have diabetes. But with his blood glucose as high as it is and the family history, and the fact I was told he needs to make an appointment with the diabetic nurse all indicates he does. I'm looking forward to some answers tomorrow! Oh and my husband doesn't have the test for ketones unfortunately, said boots don't do them anymore?
 
Hope you get everything sorted tomorrow - the way you have been treated is disgusting. I had blood tests the one day , had the same nurse ring the following day telling me I had to come straight in to see the GP as the results were back. Had a high level of keytones, told I was to go straight into hospital but I refused - was told if I had been a child I would have been sent straight in (but I was given a chance to sort out at home which I know now was a huge risk but I knew if it hit a certain level I was to go in).

Cant understand why they have kept you waiting, I so hope you complain.

Hubby got my ketostix from Asdas pharmacy for around £5 - hope you get some

Wishing you all the best
 
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