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Xpert course

R

RichardS

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8
7 years ago I went to the doctors with a sore throat and came out with diabetes. At the time all the advice I was given was "go to the library and find a book". Although in the intervening years my care has improved considerably I still think, particularly after reading on this forum, that there is a lot I should learn about my condition.
So I thought I would apply for an Xpert course, which I know my PCT run. And now they tell me that these courses are for the newly diagnosed only.
Is this correct? Are the courses useful?
Combined with their recent refusal to up my test strip allowance I am pretty racked off with my PCT at the moment. The GP informed me that as my a1c was excellent (6.1) there was no clinical need for me to test. How does he think I got to that level? Should I not want to get my levels lower than this?

Frustrated-
Richard
 
As far as I'm aware, the xpert programme is available to anyone, not just the newly diagnosed. It's been suggested to me many times that I might like to do the programme and I was diagnosed 5 years ago. It may be worth talking to either your diabetes specialist nurse or contacting the people who run the programme.

I've also had the test strip restriction problem, my GP told me I should only be testing once a week which has led to me testing very rarely as I tend to forget about it. A friend of mine who's very well informed and has good contacts looked into this for me, it seems that the government are advising doctors that type 2s on diet or tablets should only need to test once a week. This is only advice, they're not saying that there are no other options but GPs are using this as an excuse to save money. Ideally, GPs should be looking at this on a case by case basis, if someone will be using the tests to make an informed decision about their diet or if they need to do more test because they are ill then they should be allowed more freedom. It may be useful to talk to your GP about your reasons for wanting to test more regularly, you never know, he/she may actually listen!
 
My PCT doesn't run anything that I've been able to access and restricts strips. I believe the chairwoman is a vet( or a pharmacist,) but most of the members are accountants!!! :shock:
So we now have people without medical knowledge ( except vets and pharmacists :D ) who are making decisions about clinical matters.
 
hanadr said:
My PCT doesn't run anything that I've been able to access and restricts strips. I believe the chairwoman is a vet( or a pharmacist,) but most of the members are accountants!!! :shock:
So we now have people without medical knowledge ( except vets and pharmacists :D ) who are making decisions about clinical matters.
Click to expand...

This is life under Gordon....
 
inwales said:
This is life under Gordon....
Click to expand...

Possibly, but this policy was in place when the Blair witch was in power as my test strips were restricted last year :evil:
 
I am newly diagnosed T2 - and when I spoke to the organiser of the Xpert prog, she told me that there would be a range of people on it - from newbies like myself, to people who had had it for many years.
 
Hi Richard

I'm a newly diagnosed T2 and received a letter yesterday - I quote:

Thank you very much for your referral for the diabetes eduation session. I am sorry to inform you that due to a hiatus in the system we are unable to continue with these sessions until further notice.
Click to expand...

So even as a newbie I can't get any help from the NHS. I showed this to the DN at my GP's this morning and she couldn't believe it. I've also been told I can only test twice a week! Good job I have my own meter!

I'm so glad I found this forum or else I would be totally in the dark!

Rita
 
I checked my PCT website just to be sure nothing had changed and still no courses for diabetics.
 
My DN didnt tell me about the course either I happened to see a flyer and contacted them directly. I am doing the course at the moment. This week was about diet and exercise and we had a trainer come in from the local gym with loads of info. As a diabetic with blood pressure problems I can get a gp referral which will cut my costs to going to the gym by nearly half. We have a well appointed gym and swimming pool which I am happy to make use of.
 
My GP promised me an Xpert course on diagnosis, however she failed to follow up, so I called the regional organiser directly. She kindly "assumed" GP consent and put me on the next course.
The group has 9 attendees and I believe only 2 of us are newly diagnosed. It is a little frustrating as the rest of the class are somewhat mature (I am the baby at 53!!). I am not convinced that there is general commitment and the dietitian and nurse who run the course are forever apologising for suggesting that exercise is an important factor in control.
The course runs for 6 x 2.5 hour weekly sessions which are :-
1. What is Diabetes?
2. Weight Management
3. Carbohydrate Awareness
4. Supermarket Tour (Food Labels)
5. Short and Long Term complications of Diabetes & Prevention
6. Recipes, Diabetes Health Profile and Understanding Your Medication

2 weeks to go. The ladies who run the course are excellent and allow plenty of opportunity to diersify to address individuals concerns. The course will provide a lot of old ground detail for those of us who hae become diabetic obsessives, but on balance I think it is well worth investing the time.

Steve.
 
Reetpetite said:
So even as a newbie I can't get any help from the NHS. I showed this to the DN at my GP's this morning and she couldn't believe it. I've also been told I can only test twice a week! Good job I have my own meter!

I'm so glad I found this forum or else I would be totally in the dark!

Rita
Click to expand...

This doesn't surprise me at all. When I was first diagnosed I was given a meter and some tablets and just left to get on with it. I wasn't given any information about diabetes or how to manage my condition beyond being told what my BS should be before and after meals. Fortunately, I found a local Diabetes UK support group and they filled in the huge gaps and gave me the support that the NHS was supposed to give me.
 
RichardS said:
I thought I would apply for an Xpert course, which I know my PCT run. And now they tell me that these courses are for the newly diagnosed only.
Click to expand...
Hi Richard,

Whoever told you that is getting the Xpert course confused with the DESMOND course. DESMOND is for newly diagnosed type 2s, Xpert is for all diabetics, of all types and all longevities.
 
I did this course about 18 months ago. It seemed to be intended for any type 2's (and we had couple of type 1s present as well just for good measure). I became involved directly without any referral from the GP. In fact my DSN didn't even know about it's existence.

The program was far from being national. There was map on the program's website which showed which PCT's were offering it. The program's website no longer seems to exist so this may suggest that this particular program has ended.

You can view a copy of the website on the Internet Archive:

http://web.archive.org/web/200712122322 ... es.org.uk/
 
A few months ago I was looking for a course for one of my clients, his DN and GP had not even heard of these courses.

I emailed them and here is the reply, so you may want to contact Abi direct.

Dear Karen,
Please can you tell me your location and I’ll pass your query on to the nearest regional office.
Kind regards,

Abi
Abi Yates

Marketing and Communications Executive
Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company
Rutherford House

Warrington Road

Birchwood Park

Warrington

Cheshire

WA3 6ZH
T: 01925 320541

M: 07525 903984
[email protected]

www.expertpatients.co.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Good luck - Karen
 
I'm a newbie Type 1 and picked up a leaflet for xpert course at clinic and was told type 2 only, they're ''working on something for type 1's ''

oh sooo helpful! (that was when I actually had an appointment after 1 night in hospital with BG 31.8 then being discharged as ''your BG is so high there's no way you'll go low'', an appointment the next morning when still not with it frankly and then no contact with a DR or specialist or anyone for 6 wweks)

gotta love the NHS :D
 
Thanks for all the info - that is a great help. Armed with some of this I have written to my GP again. I'm not holding my breath, but I am not going to let go of this one.
I already know twice what I knew previously about diabetes thanks to this forum, and am much more aware of how the patchy NHS services are. It makes you mad the obstacles they throw in the way of those of us who want to deal positively with this condition. My DN freely admits that most of her patients can't be bothered even to make simple lifestyle changes. You would have thought that the NHS would save money by encouraging patients who take positive approaches like testing and self-education.

Thanks again

RIchard
 
My DN said much the same thing about patients not taking any notice of her advice.

She nearly fell of her chair with surprise when I turned up for the results of my first hba1c test.

I had got a pedal exerciser, and been using it!; and had been following a low glycemic load eating regime. I had also recorded by blood glucose readings in the diary she had given me, in the way she had requested (daily readings taken at different times during the day).

I had also lost some weight (even though I hadn't been told I needed to - but I thought I should!).

I had taken my statins as prescribed.

As a consequence good news all round. Cholesterol down to acceptable T2 level. Hba1c "perfect" in the words of my GP. No need for medication and come back in 6 months.

As I left, I thanked her for all the advice and help she had given a very frightened newly diagnosed T2 in April. She said she should be thanking me because it made such a change for someone to listen to her, and come back with good results as a consequence. She told me to eat some chocolate as a treat!

Not tempted by chocolate any more - but going out to lunch at posh restauant today as a celebration - and I won't miss out on some of the bg-lowering wine either!

I hope to attend an Xpert course in September - getting back to the point of this thread.
 
Hi All,
:D :)
I am new to this, thought I would let you all know that there is a new website now for the X-PERT Programme its www.xperthealth.org.uk. they now have a people living with diabetes bit and a interactive map to see where X-PERT is being delevered x
 
Yes, thanks for that link. As I suspected, my area is waiting for details. I was told that the programme was on hold due to lack of staffing/money (no surprise there!).
 
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