Worst GP Appointment I have had…ever

Wilkinson70 · Nov 12, 2015

Hey come on guys.

Yes, the doctor should of been a bit more diplomatic. Doesn't help anyone being negative. Again they have probably misinformed you.
I had to take Simvastatin for 6 months to clear my high cholesterol and unblock my clogged arteries, due to bad diet and smoking. When I had my tests and was given the all clear, there was no reason to keep taken them. That was about 18 months ago. A regime of exercise and healthy and full fibre meals helped me get there. Statins get the the fatty substances out your system, if you make the necessary changes, they won't be forever. Yes do your research, BUT; if you don't try them, how do you or anybody know that there gonna work for you. Ever body is different, every medication works differrently for each individual and in different combinations. You have to give the medication time to get into your system and work your body, usually about a month for it to settle and yes there maybe side effects. As I've said before, is give it a go and see if it works, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If it worries you get the second opinion from your regular doctor if possible. But more importantly stay positive as you seem to be doing really well. Keep up the fight.

jtpopps · Nov 13, 2015

Oh boy ......and I thought I was the only one !! geeze ive been carrying around this on my shoulders since 2009 when I had a similar experience with a doctor who had literally disempowered me in one fell swoop after three years of being patted on the back and all the hard work I had done to that point just swept under the table ! ...my health and diabetes control has severely went down hill since ...Was that his goal I wonder , some of these people just want you to fail !...I got the overall feeling that all they are interested in is keeping a job , not to help us ....!
Sorry you had this experience , but selfishly glad I'm not the only one !!

Ricky · Nov 13, 2015

I think your improvements in 3 months are absolutely brilliant - well done. Just think what they will be like after the next 3 months if you keep to the same routine as you have now. Well done for standing your ground against Statins. My husband has just taken himself off them after a few years and is amazed at the different it has made in his joint flexibility and strength both of which went right down after starting statins!!

I had my yearly HbA1C today and since in the last 10 days there has been an amazing improvement in my fasting numbers from 6.3 down to 5,3 (and even one 4.9) I would love to know what I am doing right to have got back on track. During the day on the odd occasions I have wasted one of my precious testing strips the numbers have been fine.

You keep to your low carbs + exercise as I have managed to stay off meds for 10 years now with this routine,

RAPS_od · Nov 13, 2015

Klangley said:
Just finished my GP appointment today...

Just a little bit to add:
If you're looking for the doctor to validate your good work, get ready for a long, hard experience. In my experience, most diabetic-treating doctors are quite egotistical and expect you're going to do as they say - exactly as they say. If your results show that you've done other than that, they begin to blame you for having diabetes and threaten you with all the things that can go wrong with your condition (as if you didn't have to live with that every **** day).
You're doing the right stuff by owning your results, after all, it's your body!
As far as statins, if you're against them, tell them why and ask what else they recommend. As an educated medical professional, they should be hip to other courses of treatment.
I guess what I'm really trying to get at is that it's your body, your life, and your results. Don't let them bully you, and if you feel that they are, say so. The simple statement of, "I feel like you're bullying me" may put them off long enough to consider that as the owner of your body, your life, and your results, you have something to say about how it's run. Be direct.
Good luck, my friend.

RAPS_od · Nov 13, 2015

Administrator said:
Some GPs just don't know because that isn't their interest and/or expertise. Some are just downright stubborn/rude though. Suppose it questions why people get into medicine in the first place.

To get through the highly competitive medical training, doctors develop (or already had) tremendous egos. They don't want a dumb old patient telling them what's best.
For diabetics, where the condition is so pervasive in everyday life, the doctor has to work with you to be effective. So many doctors don't know that, and telling them just doesn't work. Whenever I had a doctor who wouldn't listen, I've changed to someone else. I recommend telling them why you're changing. If they hear it enough, maybe they'll figure it out.

Kerijo · Nov 13, 2015

Klangley said:
Just finished my GP appointment today to follow up on the results of my HbA1c test and Liver Function Test. As discussed on a separate thread, my intention was also to ask to try Metformin.

This wasn’t my normal GP, in our local surgery you wait a week for an appointment and 2 weeks if you want to see a particular doctor. The meeting started off pleasantly enough. She reviewed and then read out my results. My HbA1c has fallen from 79 mmol/mol to 56 mmol/mol. My LFT (Serum ALT) level had also fallen from 95 u/L to 66 u/L. There wasn’t any acknowledgement of the improvement, just a statement that they are below target levels. But actually as wasn’t there for a pat on the back, I knew the results already and was pleased with them.

Then the conversation went something like this:

Me, ‘so I wanted to discuss Metformin’

Doctor, ‘yes I am putting you on Metformin and a statin’….started typing on the computer

Me (after a pause), ‘yes I will try Metformin but, no I am not taking a statin’

Doctor (quite stroppy), ‘You do realise you are a diabetic don’t you. I mean, that was made clear to you. We recommend all diabetics over 40 to take a Statin’

Me, ‘Yes and you also recommend the healthy eating plate and good carbs like wholemeal bread and pasta and you should see what they do to my blood sugar levels.’

OK in retrospect probably not the best response, but I was a bit taken aback by her attitude. It was clear she didn’t expect a debate. And it all got even more frosty when I also politely declined the ‘Spotlight Course’…..I think that was what she called it. I presume it is some sort of Diabetes awareness course although I don’t think I have seen it mentioned on the forum.

We continued the discussions on statins and she asked why I was against them. I said I thought I had read they can increase Type 2 diabetes and cause liver damage. I wanted to know more about them before I committed to taking them for the rest of my life. She said there were known to be moderate side effects but returned to the party line of recommending them for all Type 2 diabetes. She them measured my blood pressure and stated it was ‘high-side of normal’ (I can’t remember the exact figure). The truth is there was a bloody good reason why my blood pressure was high….it was her attitude! Anyway I agreed to do one of the 24hr monitoring exercises over the next few months.

I have rattled on long enough, but a lot of other ground was covered. The ‘highlights’ were….I would be a diabetic for life, reversal just doesn’t happen in practice, complications are inevitable and eventually I would probably be on insulin. The general vibe was also you only have yourself to blame.

Sorry for off-loading guys. But I left feeling probably the worst I have felt since my diagnosis. I have worked very hard in the last 2 months. I am a pretty resilient person (I like to think) but I walked out thinking what’s the point.

Hi. I hope you made a complaint about her to the practice manager. And if you did (or do) and get nowhere then make a change to another practice if at all possible. Failing that go online, find out her full details and make an official complaint to the GMC. You should NEVER be treated in that way by a GP. As has been said many times, in many places, YOU are in charge of your condition. Your GP should be like mine, ask you for details then OFFER (the important word here) suggestions, with the main conversations, etc. being with a fully trained, specialist, diabetes nurse. I wish you well for the future and hope that you will follow up with a complaint about this disgustingly rude doctor. kerijo.

ickihun · Nov 13, 2015

Redsnapper said:
In terms of helping with fatty liver the metformin may be helping me.I have dropped the specific measurement for this ( can't actually recall which one it is at the moment) dramatically over the last couple of months on metformin.I wasn't aware it helped with this and assumed it was to reduce appetite and slightly reduce glucose production by the liver.
I would be interested if anyone knows more about his as I am considering coming off metformin.

Hi @rednapper I've had a fattt liver on metformin and off metformin. Some articles say fruit can cause the fattt liver. Myself I stopped fruit and restricted carbs to 50g per day. Oh and I've recently gone on lchf and believe the fat got rid of my fatty liver but not sure but at my last bloods my sugar was down from 13 to 8 and lost fatty liver. I eat bacon rind, double cream and butter most days. To recap. I stopped fruit, carbs and ate fat.

kcurrie65 · Nov 13, 2015

When i was diagnosed the doctor that day was good, the follow up appointment he was stern and told me loads of thing s hecwanted me to do an i did! Next meeting he gave me a row as i had lost to much weight my cholesterol was to low etc etc etc so at that point i stood up and said to him..... tell you what i did everything you asked of me and now you are giving me a row so on that note i walked out and have never had sn appointment with him again and wont ever no matter what. It turns out i was lada he made no effort to find out metformin did nothing for me the statins reduced my cholesterol levels to dangerous.
The team i see now at my local hispital are great and very supportive and i use insulin now my journey has been swift but you need to read up so you are aware of whats what, gp s are just gps they are masters of nothing where as specialist s are specialists gps have there place and need also to know when to pass you over to a specialist

oojimmyflip · Nov 13, 2015

Klangley said:
Just finished my GP appointment today to follow up on the results of my HbA1c test and Liver Function Test. As discussed on a separate thread, my intention was also to ask to try Metformin.

This wasn’t my normal GP, in our local surgery you wait a week for an appointment and 2 weeks if you want to see a particular doctor. The meeting started off pleasantly enough. She reviewed and then read out my results. My HbA1c has fallen from 79 mmol/mol to 56 mmol/mol. My LFT (Serum ALT) level had also fallen from 95 u/L to 66 u/L. There wasn’t any acknowledgement of the improvement, just a statement that they are below target levels. But actually as wasn’t there for a pat on the back, I knew the results already and was pleased with them.

Then the conversation went something like this:

Me, ‘so I wanted to discuss Metformin’

Doctor, ‘yes I am putting you on Metformin and a statin’….started typing on the computer

Me (after a pause), ‘yes I will try Metformin but, no I am not taking a statin’

Doctor (quite stroppy), ‘You do realise you are a diabetic don’t you. I mean, that was made clear to you. We recommend all diabetics over 40 to take a Statin’

Me, ‘Yes and you also recommend the healthy eating plate and good carbs like wholemeal bread and pasta and you should see what they do to my blood sugar levels.’

OK in retrospect probably not the best response, but I was a bit taken aback by her attitude. It was clear she didn’t expect a debate. And it all got even more frosty when I also politely declined the ‘Spotlight Course’…..I think that was what she called it. I presume it is some sort of Diabetes awareness course although I don’t think I have seen it mentioned on the forum.

We continued the discussions on statins and she asked why I was against them. I said I thought I had read they can increase Type 2 diabetes and cause liver damage. I wanted to know more about them before I committed to taking them for the rest of my life. She said there were known to be moderate side effects but returned to the party line of recommending them for all Type 2 diabetes. She them measured my blood pressure and stated it was ‘high-side of normal’ (I can’t remember the exact figure). The truth is there was a bloody good reason why my blood pressure was high….it was her attitude! Anyway I agreed to do one of the 24hr monitoring exercises over the next few months.

I have rattled on long enough, but a lot of other ground was covered. The ‘highlights’ were….I would be a diabetic for life, reversal just doesn’t happen in practice, complications are inevitable and eventually I would probably be on insulin. The general vibe was also you only have yourself to blame.

Sorry for off-loading guys. But I left feeling probably the worst I have felt since my diagnosis. I have worked very hard in the last 2 months. I am a pretty resilient person (I like to think) but I walked out thinking what’s the point.

I left the doctors surgery because of this kind of attitude and found a much better one further away that would do house calls when I am older, they ask my opinion which is nice, the old ones expected results within 4 days of changing my insulin dose it was more about do it my way not yours, I'm very happy at my new surgery,

Klangley · Nov 13, 2015

Wilkinson70 said:
Hey come on guys.

Yes, the doctor should of been a bit more diplomatic. Doesn't help anyone being negative. Again they have probably misinformed you.
I had to take Simvastatin for 6 months to clear my high cholesterol and unblock my clogged arteries, due to bad diet and smoking. When I had my tests and was given the all clear, there was no reason to keep taken them. That was about 18 months ago. A regime of exercise and healthy and full fibre meals helped me get there. Statins get the the fatty substances out your system, if you make the necessary changes, they won't be forever. Yes do your research, BUT; if you don't try them, how do you or anybody know that there gonna work for you. Ever body is different, every medication works differrently for each individual and in different combinations. You have to give the medication time to get into your system and work your body, usually about a month for it to settle and yes there maybe side effects. As I've said before, is give it a go and see if it works, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If it worries you get the second opinion from your regular doctor if possible. But more importantly stay positive as you seem to be doing really well. Keep up the fight.

Glad you had some benefit from statins Wikinson70. And perhaps they are of some benefit to people with certain types of high cholesterol. The real problem I had with my doctor was that there were no tests that indicated there was any sort of issue with my cholesterol (I will have a test in the new year with my next HbA1c test). I was being prescribed a medication simply because it was a recommendation from some faceless institution based on my age and the fact I am a diabetic. And as I said earlier, that is the same faceless institution that promotes this 'healthy eating plate' and demonises the LCHF diet that is enabling many people on this forum to turn around their condition.

Susikav · Nov 13, 2015

Klangley said:
Just finished my GP appointment today to follow up on the results of my HbA1c test and Liver Function Test. As discussed on a separate thread, my intention was also to ask to try Metformin.

This wasn’t my normal GP, in our local surgery you wait a week for an appointment and 2 weeks if you want to see a particular doctor. The meeting started off pleasantly enough. She reviewed and then read out my results. My HbA1c has fallen from 79 mmol/mol to 56 mmol/mol. My LFT (Serum ALT) level had also fallen from 95 u/L to 66 u/L. There wasn’t any acknowledgement of the improvement, just a statement that they are below target levels. But actually as wasn’t there for a pat on the back, I knew the results already and was pleased with them.

Then the conversation went something like this:

Me, ‘so I wanted to discuss Metformin’

Doctor, ‘yes I am putting you on Metformin and a statin’….started typing on the computer

Me (after a pause), ‘yes I will try Metformin but, no I am not taking a statin’

Doctor (quite stroppy), ‘You do realise you are a diabetic don’t you. I mean, that was made clear to you. We recommend all diabetics over 40 to take a Statin’

Me, ‘Yes and you also recommend the healthy eating plate and good carbs like wholemeal bread and pasta and you should see what they do to my blood sugar levels.’

OK in retrospect probably not the best response, but I was a bit taken aback by her attitude. It was clear she didn’t expect a debate. And it all got even more frosty when I also politely declined the ‘Spotlight Course’…..I think that was what she called it. I presume it is some sort of Diabetes awareness course although I don’t think I have seen it mentioned on the forum.

We continued the discussions on statins and she asked why I was against them. I said I thought I had read they can increase Type 2 diabetes and cause liver damage. I wanted to know more about them before I committed to taking them for the rest of my life. She said there were known to be moderate side effects but returned to the party line of recommending them for all Type 2 diabetes. She them measured my blood pressure and stated it was ‘high-side of normal’ (I can’t remember the exact figure). The truth is there was a bloody good reason why my blood pressure was high….it was her attitude! Anyway I agreed to do one of the 24hr monitoring exercises over the next few months.

I have rattled on long enough, but a lot of other ground was covered. The ‘highlights’ were….I would be a diabetic for life, reversal just doesn’t happen in practice, complications are inevitable and eventually I would probably be on insulin. The general vibe was also you only have yourself to blame.

Sorry for off-loading guys. But I left feeling probably the worst I have felt since my diagnosis. I have worked very hard in the last 2 months. I am a pretty resilient person (I like to think) but I walked out thinking what’s the point.

Hi, Your stats are spectacular, and I have no idea why anyone who is reasonably intelligent, let alone a doctor, should not be very impressed with them and advise you to 'keep doing what you're doing'.... So many of the people on this site have reduced drastically, or completely kicked their meds into touch, and still it seems no-one is listening... and as for statins... don't get me started... Well done, you have done wonders for yourself with no help from the NHS... I was diagnosed a year ago, joined this site the same day, researched and read, started to low-carb-high-fat and have never looked back... my numbers are tightly controlled and I don't cheat... they run from 4.4 to 7.2.... I also don't need the NHS... I'm lucky, my doctor continues to be amazed by me.. I don't know if you need recipes but alldayidreamaboutfood.com is a beauty, and so is ibreatheimhungry.com... I go without nothing... Good luck... Susi

Susikav · Nov 13, 2015

4ratbags said:
It can definately be deflating when you go to see your GP. I personally just dont bother, its not worth the stress. I just book in with the nurse every 3 months or so to keep track of my numbers.

What an awe-inspiring story! Fantastic...

Klangley · Nov 13, 2015

Kerijo said:
Hi. I hope you made a complaint about her to the practice manager. And if you did (or do) and get nowhere then make a change to another practice if at all possible. Failing that go online, find out her full details and make an official complaint to the GMC. You should NEVER be treated in that way by a GP. As has been said many times, in many places, YOU are in charge of your condition. Your GP should be like mine, ask you for details then OFFER (the important word here) suggestions, with the main conversations, etc. being with a fully trained, specialist, diabetes nurse. I wish you well for the future and hope that you will follow up with a complaint about this disgustingly rude doctor. kerijo.

In retrospect I should have made a complaint. But honestly I think they would probably write it off as someone who can't take the cold hard truths of diabetes. The thing is though the cold hard truths (Diabetes is progressive, cant be reversed or controlled and insulin is loaming in the distance) are only the truth if you follow their outdated thinking! The best thing I have done since diagnosis is to join this forum. I have also read loads and watched the lectures of Jason Fung and professor Taylor from Newcastle University. I am completely convinced that T2 diabetes is a dietary disease and the cure is dietary. I am completely convinced that T2 diabetes is reversible - how else can you explain the study showing 90% of patients who had a sleeve gastrostomy were cured of diabetes. But when you are sat in front of a Doctor (and we have been conditioned from childhood that they know what they are talking about) on their territory and in the face of a barrage of medical terms it is just deflating. I now know there are many on this forum who feel exactly the same. As my wife said when I came home, 'The problem is when you debate with idiots they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience'.

I will ensure my next appointment is with the Doctor in the practice that specialises in Diabetes Care. On the advice of someone on this thread, I have now found out who that is. She it seems is also one of the most senor of the Doctors. I will make my points to her....provided of course that she isn't even worse than my previous Doctor

Billy Ruffian · Nov 13, 2015

Klangley said:
Just finished my GP appointment today to follow up on the results of my HbA1c test and Liver Function Test. As discussed on a separate thread, my intention was also to ask to try Metformin.

This wasn’t my normal GP, in our local surgery you wait a week for an appointment and 2 weeks if you want to see a particular doctor. The meeting started off pleasantly enough. She reviewed and then read out my results. My HbA1c has fallen from 79 mmol/mol to 56 mmol/mol. My LFT (Serum ALT) level had also fallen from 95 u/L to 66 u/L. There wasn’t any acknowledgement of the improvement, just a statement that they are below target levels. But actually as wasn’t there for a pat on the back, I knew the results already and was pleased with them.

Then the conversation went something like this:

Me, ‘so I wanted to discuss Metformin’

Doctor, ‘yes I am putting you on Metformin and a statin’….started typing on the computer

Me (after a pause), ‘yes I will try Metformin but, no I am not taking a statin’

Doctor (quite stroppy), ‘You do realise you are a diabetic don’t you. I mean, that was made clear to you. We recommend all diabetics over 40 to take a Statin’

Me, ‘Yes and you also recommend the healthy eating plate and good carbs like wholemeal bread and pasta and you should see what they do to my blood sugar levels.’

OK in retrospect probably not the best response, but I was a bit taken aback by her attitude. It was clear she didn’t expect a debate. And it all got even more frosty when I also politely declined the ‘Spotlight Course’…..I think that was what she called it. I presume it is some sort of Diabetes awareness course although I don’t think I have seen it mentioned on the forum.

I have rattled on long enough, but a lot of other ground was covered. The ‘highlights’ were….I would be a diabetic for life, reversal just doesn’t happen in practice, complications are inevitable and eventually I would probably be on insulin. The general vibe was also you only have yourself to blame..

You might also want to quote this at her: 'No decision about me without me' from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...n-about-me-without-me-Government-response.pdf

I have been a member of a patients' panel and this has been,allegedly, a lynch-pin of GP prctice philosophies in my area. For those who pay any attention to it, that is.

Klangley · Nov 13, 2015

Susikav said:
Hi, Your stats are spectacular, and I have no idea why anyone who is reasonably intelligent, let alone a doctor, should not be very impressed with them and advise you to 'keep doing what you're doing'.... So many of the people on this site have reduced drastically, or completely kicked their meds into touch, and still it seems no-one is listening... and as for statins... don't get me started... Well done, you have done wonders for yourself with no help from the NHS... I was diagnosed a year ago, joined this site the same day, researched and read, started to low-carb-high-fat and have never looked back... my numbers are tightly controlled and I don't cheat... they run from 4.4 to 7.2.... I also don't need the NHS... I'm lucky, my doctor continues to be amazed by me.. I don't know if you need recipes but alldayidreamaboutfood.com is a beauty, and so is ibreatheimhungry.com... I go without nothing... Good luck... Susi

Thanks Susi. I am a keen cook and always keen to find new recipes. Cauliflower rice was one of the best recent finds. I started eating it with my curries. Initially the kids were horrified preferring their basmati white rice. Then they tried it, decided they really liked it and now no-one in the house bothers with rice. Incidentally the kids don't even know I am diabetic so its not a case of them being supportive.

Klangley · Nov 13, 2015

RAPS_od said:
Just a little bit to add:
If you're looking for the doctor to validate your good work, get ready for a long, hard experience. In my experience, most diabetic-treating doctors are quite egotistical and expect you're going to do as they say - exactly as they say. If your results show that you've done other than that, they begin to blame you for having diabetes and threaten you with all the things that can go wrong with your condition (as if you didn't have to live with that every **** day).
You're doing the right stuff by owning your results, after all, it's your body!
As far as statins, if you're against them, tell them why and ask what else they recommend. As an educated medical professional, they should be hip to other courses of treatment.
I guess what I'm really trying to get at is that it's your body, your life, and your results. Don't let them bully you, and if you feel that they are, say so. The simple statement of, "I feel like you're bullying me" may put them off long enough to consider that as the owner of your body, your life, and your results, you have something to say about how it's run. Be direct.
Good luck, my friend.

Good advice. It was pretty subtle bullying but I guess it was exactly that. The bottom line though is that I didn't accept to do anything other than that which I had previously made up my mind to do.

Klangley · Nov 13, 2015

jtpopps said:
Oh boy ......and I thought I was the only one !! geeze ive been carrying around this on my shoulders since 2009 when I had a similar experience with a doctor who had literally disempowered me in one fell swoop after three years of being patted on the back and all the hard work I had done to that point just swept under the table ! ...my health and diabetes control has severely went down hill since ...Was that his goal I wonder , some of these people just want you to fail !...I got the overall feeling that all they are interested in is keeping a job , not to help us ....!
Sorry you had this experience , but selfishly glad I'm not the only one !!

Thanks mate, I hope you will be able to 'get back on the horse'. I think we have to hope that people don't go into the medical profession wanting to in any way cause harm. I have no doubt personally though the objective for the second half of the meeting was to put me firmly in my place. Whilst outwardly I didn't take a backward step, I was surprised afterwards how bad I felt. God forbid I hadn't done my research , or hadn't this excellent forum to fall back on.

Susikav · Nov 13, 2015

Klangley said:
I really appreciate your feedback and support guys. Sorry for the delay in responding. I spent yesterday at the funeral of a friend and ex-work colleague who passed away at 56 from cancer. It put my issues into perspective. It hasn’t been a fun-packed week. Yesterday wasn’t helped but 4 different train journeys, not one of which either arrived or left in time, and 6hrs in total…..but at least I avoided the Friday M25 traffic.

@Administrator actually the Doctor didn’t respond to my jibe about the healthy eating plate and later when I asked for her opinion on low carbs, she said, ‘I will refer you to a dietician I am a doctor’. I thought that also was a bizarre thing to say but things had become a little frosty by then

@zand I have read somewhere else about the milk thistle, perhaps I will give it a try. Thanks.

Yesterday gave me time to reflect on the meeting with the Doctor. I honestly think that some of her later statements about being a diabetic for life, eventually needing insulin, the jibe about my weight etc where simply an attempt to regain her dominance in the meeting. Basically she was ****** off that her authority was being challenging and was putting me in my place.

@graj0 normally I am like you, I only think of the good retorts whilst driving home. On reflection, there is so much I would have loved to have said in that meeting, but she started to throw a lot of obviously well-rehearsed blah at me, with a lot of medical terms. From the forum I had known this sort of Doctor was out there but it still intimidating when you meet one in the flesh. Whilst now I am back to being positive, as I said I left her office feeling deflated. If it was a boxing match I think I had a couple of good early rounds but the truth was in the end she probably won on points

I am totally confused though as to why this should be a fight! From what I have read and now experienced first-hand, I am increasingly convinced that some Doctor’s seem to have a negative mind-set towards T2 patients. I think they believe we have largely brought this upon ourselves, are an unnecessary drain on NHS resources and should just shut-up and take the meds they prescribe. It sounds as if many have not updated their knowledge or thinking on the subject since they left training decades ago. And then we have the system itself unwilling or unable to change the advice they are offering. Thankfully though, I know that is not true of all doctors. Up to that point, I have had nothing but good support and sensible advice.

There is part of me who would like to go back and see her again for a rematch, but actually I will change Doctor…..life is too short, and if I listened to some in that profession it might be even shorter Actually I think probably the main the lesson from my experience is don't be afraid to change Doctor until you get one of the good ones.

This is such a nicely balanced post... I am beginning to believe that the NHS is controlled by the big Pharmaceuticals, who want to push their products... Which actually does very little for the 'punters', who have to trust their doctors...

Loughrigg · Nov 13, 2015

There are very good GP's out there who are prepared to listen and treat patients as humans rather than targets. Unfortunately there are also plenty who are much less proficient and it is one of those that you had the misfortune of consulting. When I read the experiences other people have with medics, I realise I am incredibly lucky to have a GP who treats me like I have more than a couple of brain cells.

My conversations with him are based on an acceptance that I understand my diabetes (Type 1), the way it affects my body and how to manage it. I have access to all my current and past blood test results and routinely review my own blood test results before I go to see him (for patterns of variation or specific measurements that may be out of range). I keep my own blood pressure readings (on an Ipad app using the same BP monitor as is used in the surgery) and that monitor has just been calibrated by the company rep when he came in to calibrate the surgery machines.
I have much the same relationship with the surgery nurses (who generally conduct the annual review) except that they sometimes ask me questions about diabetes. I know they have read a couple of research papers that I recommended to them (because they wanted to talk about them the next time I was in the surgery) and they are now recommending the Ipad app that I use to other patients who are happy to monitor their BP at home.
When statins were suggested some years ago (with the familiar mantra of "you are a diabetic and should be on statins") I pointed out that my total cholesterol was 3.8, my HDL & LDL were at ideal levels and my triglycerides were also within range - end of conversation.

The hospital diabetic clinic? - well, I became tired of waiting hours to see a "wet behind the ears" junior doctor with very, very limited knowledge of diabetes - I understand they were on a two or three week rotation, so you were probably more likely to be seeing someone who wanted to specialise in A&E than someone with in-depth knowledge of diabetes.

Susikav · Nov 13, 2015

Lorraine Cannell said:
Been there and had similar problems. One thing you must watch is that you are not over prescribed on any of these drugs. I've just seen a specialist from the hospital for my type 2 which I've had for over 7 years. I have been suffering all this time from many side effects of Metformen and the specialist has taken me off it for a month as she believes that I have been prescribed 4 times the quantity that I need. Make sure that you get some monitoring on your actual requirements. I also take statins but only need half the dose that the GP wanted me to take. I know some people have horrendous joint pain with statins. 12 days after being taken off Metformen I can taste my food again I've lost a kilo in weight my skin problems are improving and the stomach cramp has gone completely. The only thing that hasn't come back to normal is the pain in my legs which I feel is neuropathy but the GP won't own up on that one as having overdosed me for 7 years I think they feel a bit guilty. Good luck and keep your wits about you always.

Hi Lorraine.... I am horrified by your story.... you have really suffered.... Some of the chaps on the site take Magnesium for the pain in the legs.... and if you have numb patches, or circulation problems they take B12, in Methylcobalamine form, ALA and Benfotiamine.... I recognised so many symptoms in myself when they were discussing their neuropathy on another thread that I started taking the Methylocobalamine and my numb patches on my feet, that I've had for years, have almost gone now... I am in the Middle East so cannot get the other stuff yet, but I will, as soon as I get back home... Good luck...

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