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Why is it an advantage to have an official T2DM diagnosis?

gardengnome42

gardengnome42

Well-Known Member
Messages
212
Location
Yorkshire
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
diabetes and dieting
Reading one of the other diabetic forums the poster, a prediabetic was writing about their pre and post meal BG numbers and someone commented to see the GP as 'The sooner you have a diagnosis the better'. You are going to be told to alter your diet and as it's the NHS you are going to be steered towards the Eatwell Plate' :banghead:. So why the urgency to get a diagnosis and add to the statistics ?
As a prediabetic I have been told that it is possible to delay the onset of T2 by diet but the same surely applies to a full diabetic I think, so why go down the path of having it all entered up permanently in your medical notes with subsequent problems regarding travel insurance?What are the pro's and cons of an official diagnosis?
 
I know I got free prescriptions (under 60 in England) when I was prescribed insulin. Not sure about tablets only though
 
Official diagnosis means regular monitoring, I would rather have that than cheaper travel insurance. Not sure I understand your point about being a 'full diabetic', though.
 
rmz80 said:
I know I got free prescriptions (under 60 in England) when I was prescribed insulin. Not sure about tablets only though
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Even if one is a T2 on Metformin only you get all medications, not just those for Diabetes, free.
This is in England, once you are medicated for Diabetes you can apply for an exemption certificate.
 
I declared that I was a diet only controlled diabetic on my travel insurance but it didn't increase the premium. Actually it would be unreasonable if it did, the complications are long term and hardly likely to result in emergency treatment during a two week holiday.
 
Thanks for the replies. The reason I asked was that I was reading about an 82 yr old who some years ago was told he was diabetic after one high BS reading, but no meds advised. He has annual reviews and all OK, and 2 recent blood tests were fine. Also his retinopathy tests are fine. He queried the diabetic status with the GP who says it can't be changed once it's on the system and now it is causing his travel insurance to be too expensive.
Actually I did wonder whether it was his age that was causing his insurance to be too expensive as my own husband is 87 and travel insurance is exorbitantly expensive, and that's if you can get it at all. Sometimes I think insurance companies want you to crawl into a hole and die when you get old.:(
As I am also on the cusp of becoming diabetic and have been told to have a further HbA1c in September I wondered whether to ask for one at 6 months, ie. any time now to see how I am doing. Is it worth risking being on the register with all that entails. I am 75 btw and don't pay for my medication in any event. I am struggling with low carbing although my weight isn't a problem. Fruit is my downfall!
 
I agree with the others. When you are on the official diabetic register you receive regular monitoring of all bloods, not just the HbA1c. This has to be a good thing. You get the annual retinal screening, which is also a good thing because retinopathy can affect pre-diabetics if they have spikes. You get the annual foot checks, and when you want to cash in a pension and take an annuity, you get a better deal (because they think you will die sooner). It has never affected my travel insurance nor my car insurance. If you are prescribed diabetes medication of any sort, all prescriptions are free for any medication. Also, in the event of an emergency trauma or accident, they know you are diabetic.
 
Guzzler said:
Official diagnosis means regular monitoring, I would rather have that than cheaper travel insurance. Not sure I understand your point about being a 'full diabetic', though.
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When I said 'Full diabetic' I assumed that is what one became the moment the HbA1c went over 48? Have I got it wrong? Unlike just cutting calories to lose weight this is a whole lot more complex and has to be a way of life for ever. I'm thinking perhaps there is actually little difference between being just under the cut off point of 48 and just over it - the same rules apply. So many people here get a diagnosis, then soon get their A1cs back into non diabetic levels but they will still have it listed on their med notes and of course have to declare it. I have vivid memories of how upset/cross/angry I was when diagnosed with hypertension and my GP just slapped Hypertension at the top of my notes: psychological perhaps - but there you are! Although I want to avoid a diagnosis of diabetes if I can, I couldn't be more upset than I was then, 5 years ago.
 
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Bluetit1802 said:
I agree with the others. When you are on the official diabetic register you receive regular monitoring of all bloods, not just the HbA1c. This has to be a good thing. You get the annual retinal screening, which is also a good thing because retinopathy can affect pre-diabetics if they have spikes. You get the annual foot checks, and when you want to cash in a pension and take an annuity, you get a better deal (because they think you will die sooner). It has never affected my travel insurance nor my car insurance. If you are prescribed diabetes medication of any sort, all prescriptions are free for any medication. Also, in the event of an emergency trauma or accident, they know you are diabetic.
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Is retinal screening the same as having your eyes tested? I do have mine done every year in any event and the optician always asks if I have diabetes. this last time I specifically asked about this and all was OK anyway. Thankfully my eyesight has always been good and I just wear specs for reading - from the £ shop actually!!
 
gardengnome42 said:
Is retinal screening the same as having your eyes tested? I do have mine done every year in any event and the optician always asks if I have diabetes. this last time I specifically asked about this and all was OK anyway. Thankfully my eyesight has always been good and I just wear specs for reading - from the £ shop actually!!
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No, it is not the same as an eye sight test. They put drops in your eyes to enlarge the pupils then take photos of the back of the eye and retina. These are enlarged on a screen and examined by some sort of expert. They are done by the National Screening Service, although some opticians can also do them, but they need the right machinery and expertise.

Another advantage of being diabetic is we get free eye-sight tests.
 
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