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Worst review with DSN


Definitely do-able. Good luck.
 
I am afraid my confidence of self proclaimed DSN's is pretty low. I was called for my 6 monthly review, by letter, which stated that my blood test form was enclosed - it wasn't. I attended my review and said to the DSN that I haven't had my blood test done yet. Its no problem she said we are cutting back on the blood tests and you only need yours once a year. So I asked how she could do a review of my prescription when she didn't have a clue what my levels are like. I received a blank blood test form in the post this week
 
Hi all,
I apologise if I am a bit out of order here, but can everyone in responding consider that OP is a young adult, who lives at home with what appears to be an unsuppotive family.
 
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Well done you ...and I couldn't agree more Alison.

I think that all of us go through pretty similar stages from diagnosis , finding that we get very little support, incorrect and outdated information , little or no advice and completely differing medication . Most of us soon realise that our GPs knowledge and understanding is limited or in some cases non existant. I suffered pre diabetes for an estimated 15 years before finally collapsing with a BS level of 38mmol/L and in all that time my GP ignored all the classic symptoms. He also ignored my 72 hour migraines and eventually I insisted on a referral and found I had had a macro prolactinoma for many years. !

Eventually I think most of us realise that there is only one answer and that is to take responsibility for our own health and well being. Each of us knows our own health, symptoms and conditions far better than any Health Care practitioner ever could . It takes a lot of effort and application to research our symptoms and conditions but eventually most of us find the solutions that suit us and gradually bring about dramatic improvements in our well being and our understanding of how our bodies work.

Your story is an inspiration Alison thanks for sharing with us
 
Alison you've obviously done really well and I applaud you. I for one would not have the time or inclination when I come home from work to cook from a cookbook or walk the dog for hours. The point is that the majority of us work long hours and still use convenience foods such as pre made pies and battered fish etc. You are right a cookbook meal is far better for you but for most rarely convenient. By using the eat well plate you can at least portion out the food to a better ratio than just piling it on. I for one am very grateful to my Dsn I was in a bad way when diagnosed.yes Meds are all to easily given out and people are all different,I could not survive without mine but then that's one of the differences between type1 and type2. It's ok to be disappointed in not always getting as much help as we would like but that is not always down to a bad dsn it is often down to budget and time constraints with in different counties. If people really are getting rushed along and given bad advice they should complain to the primary care trust.
 
I agree completely you must be your own inform advocate. Or find a diabetic dr. I did and I love him
 
ickihun said:
I too flurished on more insulin @worcesterwoman . I even lost weight.
I find thou my Insulin Resistance is very very easily influenced. Any variation and it goes mad.
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I haven't got to the weight loss bit yet, busy with all my health problems the latest being an impending gall bladder op - so a low/no fat diet. Add to that gluten intolerance, nut, fish, chick peas (on it goes) with thyroid, asthma and Mitochondrial disease I guess things are going pretty well.
 
jonjaz said:
Bet she was skinny !
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I am sure if you wrote something like "Bet she was fat" you would have many people ranting at you on this forum. However, being skinny seems to be something that can be laughed at. As someone who is skinny, I would ask that you refrain from laughing at any body image.
Sorry if I am being overly sensitive: I know this was meant light-hearted.
 
That's the stuff ! Sadly the only way to get through to these inadequate people is to put it in writing.
With all the latest information about LCHF and the changing times we live in, the reversal of the 50 years of wrong dietary advice from ANCEL KEYS to go LOW FAT, it is time diabetics were given more sensible advice. Demand to see the dr. Demand better service. Do it nicely but determinedly.
 
="akindrat18, post: 1460399, member: 53120"]My appointment today with the DSN to discuss my high blood sugars went no where. I've been told to stick to injecting 10 units of novorapid with each meal and not 30, but 36 units of tresiba. I showed her my blood sugar levels over the past month and she was like ”they're a bit high".

She even brought up the eat well plate, asking me if I have been following it and then when I asked about carb counting and going onto a DAFNE course, she said that I don't need to as it's for people with type 1 and that the DESMOND course is more suitable.

I feel so angry right now at them, they are just not listening to me.[/QUOTE]

HI see what I wrote , in reply to DIAKAT who has given you very good advice.
Sadly the only way to get through to these inadequate people is to put it in writing.
With all the latest information about LCHF and the changing times we live in, the reversal of the 50 years of wrong dietary advice from ANCEL KEYS to go LOW FAT, it is time diabetics were given more sensible advice. Demand to see the dr. Demand better service. Do it nicely but determinedly.
 
Tomorrow I've got an appointment to see the dietitian at the same surgery where I saw my DSN. Hopefully I should have more luck with the dietitian.
 
akindrat18 said:
Tomorrow I've got an appointment to see the dietitian at the same surgery where I saw my DSN. Hopefully I should have more luck with the dietitian.
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Hope all goes better this time. Let us know.
 

Hi
I'm Paul.
Like everything else in life there are good and bad nurses everywhere.
I'm VERY fortunate to be under the Type 1 Complex Diabetic team in Birmingham at the QE.
My consultant is amazingly good and the Sister is truly wonderful.
I think you need to insist on a very important test called Haemaglobin A1C HbA1C this test determines your average blood glucose over the past 3 to 4 months.
It's a very good check of what's happening to you.
It's VERY likely your testing isn't reflecting your actual blood readings 24/7.
I'm using a Medtronic 640G Pump and currently my DNA is giving me sensors to do blood glucose.
At £250 per box of 5 they aren't cheap but we'll worth the time and expense.
My HbA1C has gone from 13% (bad) to 7.3% (very good) in 12 months.
My GO says this is truly amazing and my consultant continues to fight for funding.
I sympathise for you BUT you are the patient and you can ask for ANYTHING that can help you.
Your consultant is the one to talk to.
Good luck
Paul

Post edited to remove health care professionals names,
 
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akindrat18 said:
Tomorrow I've got an appointment to see the dietitian at the same surgery where I saw my DSN. Hopefully I should have more luck with the dietitian.
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Hi again
I noticed you have an appointment tomorrow?? the person you are seeing at your GO is not REPEAT NOT a DNS GPS simply can't afford them.
My wife is a Staff Nurse she has LOTS of experience with me and my complex conf. She's VERY interested however she is not a specialist.
She told me that this nurse is definitely NOT a specialist for sure.
See your GO request a clinic consultation at the hospital talk to them about DAFNE and DESMOND they're both good.
HbA1C that's what you need to get checked it's much more accurate.
Paul
 
My dietitian is a waste of space, saying that I need to have carbs with every meal and that LCHF is not suitable for me or for any diabetics. Too top it all of I've only been given 20 test strips to monitor my blood sugars for a month.
 
akindrat18 said:
My dietitian is a waste of space, saying that I need to have carbs with every meal and that LCHF is not suitable for me or for any diabetics. Too top it all of I've only been given 20 test strips to monitor my blood sugars for a month.
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Why so few test strips? If you're on insulin then you need more. Could it be a typo or a mistake?

If not, try asking your GP for more, and explain you can't control your blood sugar properly without them.
 
azure said:
Why so few test strips? If you're on insulin then you need more. Could it be a typo or a mistake?

If not, try asking your GP for more, and explain you can't control your blood sugar properly without them.
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I saw both my dietitian and DSN, they said that I only need to be testing before meals, ditch the butter, mayo eggs, cream and cheese. Focus more on carbohydrates and substitute my bacon and eggs with bacon and a round of bread or egg and a round of bread, snack on fruit and add some potatoes or rice with salad's.
 

But even just testing before meals works out at more than 20 strips per month - that's what I dont understand.

As for your diet, why not ask about trying a set amount of carbs per meal, staying at a lowish daily total? That would mean you kept the carbs low, and a regular set amount of carbs might help your control too.
 
I knew a T2 lady on insulin and this is what she did too, so it sounds like pretty standard advice if you are on a fixed insulin regime. She ate a wholemeal bread roll with every meal because that's what she was told to do. Do you think this would help you to keep your BG's more stable? I would guess that they are trying to ensure that you don't have dangerously low BGs?
 
I too know how you feel. Just cancelled my appt with DBN this pm and made appt to see Doc.
At last review with new nurse I mentioned I didn't feel Humalog Mix 25 was working for me. Been on it a long time and could inject but not eat for 3/4 hrs before BS started to drop. Was happy when she asked if I wud like to try Levemir and Novorapid. Went away with pens and her instructions. When I went back 4 days later and showed her horrendous highs 20, 18, 16. I explained I was afraid to eat as just kept getting highs and 2unit increases were just leaving me high all day. At 3rd appt she said, 'I don't think you really want to do this do you? You should go back to Humalog mix'. I said I was fully committed and made appt for another 3 days. I increased Levemir and Novorapid. Went back still high and again she said go back to Humalog mix'. I pointed out it hadn't been working for me and asked if she thought I should try Humalog 50/50. She said 'We can't keep changing it about! Go back to Mix25!' I gave up at this point and have been trying to get results with Lev+Novo on my own but no luck. I was also meant to have a cardiac review seperately (heart attack and stent 2010) but she said her blood pressure checks would cover that. Didn't get to say I've been getting chest pain but her reply to concerns about my very swollen ankles was 'elevate them'! She had mentioned referring me to hosp to see Consultant but that was used more as a threat when she thought I wasn't taking the new insulin therapy seriously. As I say, now have appt with my doc and intend to ask for a referral myself. At my previous surgery my Doc said I was extremely insulin resistant and was really supportive (her hubby was diabetic and same problem with Dawn Phenom as me). Only good thing to come out of all this is I've dropped 8lbs but not sure if that was result of high readings or frightened to eat Only another 5 stone to go!
Will see how docs go next week but still trying with Lev/Novo til then.
 
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