Poor help from NHS for newly diagnosed

I feel there is a lot of miss-information out even from health authorities and no enough help lose weight and diet. The simple blood test for high blood sugars should be used to test everyone every few years. Therefore an indicator of problems can be identified and the right information before hopefully the disease can take hold. Lifestyle choice and food consumed could be altered to suit how best to reduce a person requiring drug treatment.

Certainly the help online was superior to any support within the NHS, educating people and prevention rather than unaffordable treatment.

Hi,

I was diagnosed in May this year with T2 diabetes and was invited back just 4 weeks later for a follow up appointment to be told I was doing well, see you in a year, literally. Since then the only support or advice I have been given was a one day workshop about diabetes, which was ok, but by then I had already read most of what was discussed. Now I am back to dealing with it alone and things aren't going so well. I have a blood glucose monitor, which I bought, and use as often as I can but I was told not to rely on it but the diabetic nurse as I am not on medication. It may have been more useful for the NHS to create diabetic support groups for people to attend when they need a sympathetic ear/support/get to know others in similar situations as there is nothing where I live.

I agree prevention programmes are needed too, I was 'pre-diabetic' for a few years prior to diagnosis and got absolutely no assistance whatsoever from the NHS.

I feel they are wasting money in relation to diabetes and it needs addressing.

Moving on from that I am hoping I find the inspiration and/or motivation needed to be able to address my diabetes correctly again

You would think that all those who have diabetes in the family would be checked every year, and advised BEFORE the condition appears, wouldn't you! You are spot on about the lack of support for newly diagnosed. I was in the same position when I was diagnosed. I thought - it can't be that serious - the doc said come back in a year, so I guess I thought I didn't need to change anything. Of course, when you're dealing with it alone, that's when the crap hits the fan. You are absolutely right that there should be support groups set up by practices specifically for the newly diagnosed. It would help enormously, and in the long run, would save the NHS a small fortune too.

All the best,

Kazzy xx

Hello to all,,,I was diagnosed in about 2008 and got the medication and the blood sugar testing kit straight away,, everything was new to me with just a few booklets to use for information,,,, I eventually found more information, and got somethings organised,,,I even tried Chromium Picolinate which helped me and I even had my first hypo, an interesting feeling... I was referred to the hospital specialist doctor who put me on another tablet or than the Metformin I was already on,,, I am now on gliclazide and victoza, which I have just read about is being said as not a good thing to use, along with januvia,,more news than we have time to deal with. 

I have not been sent on any of the courses that are for diabetics,,,and I don't know if i have missed anything important,,,I am a forum member of the Diabetes uk web site and read all the information on the main site,,, this site has given me information and the opportunity to 'chat' with others in the same boat... A newly diagnosed person, can never has too much information, and learn from the others who have been there seen it and done it and got the better of what is best for them and never stop asking questions.. also asked to be referred to a diabetic specialist nurse,, these nurses are the specialist ones who can give you answers and guidance which is vital for a newby.   ttfn from Karen.

i agree with all the previous comments i have had no help whatsoever from my doctor,all the information i did get was from the internet,i did alot of research and decided to try low carb which helped me lose weight that helped my diabetes.

   when i went for my latest blood results my doctor said you are not diabetic yet but your bloods show you are going that way,she had diagnosed me five years previously,i couldn't believe my ears and when i pointed out her mistake she said oh in that case your blood results were good,keep up the good work,i was so disheartened with her i have been to see her since even though i really should have.

all i can say is take your health into your own hands do the research and also the diabetes uk forum karen mentioned is a great help

Hello hackie54, yes you are right about keeping research going,,,we have to be on top of what is going on,,, your doctor saying that,,,, then you had to tell her about previous diagnoses,,,it says to me that she did not review your notes,,on your arrival or during your visit,,,this is a poor quality of treatment,,,,at least she acknowledged her mistake,,and gave you the credit of good work on your blood results,,,,,the diabetes uk forum is also a good read and many points are raised,,the help from there is tremendous,,,ttfn from Karen. 

hi and thanks karen,i do feel sorry for newly diagnosed and think this forum and others like it help a great deal,how alone would they feel without the support they give,my doctor has made many mistakes with my care  so now i don't trust her this forum and diabetes uk have been a great help to me,i am more confident now but it is no thanks to my doctor,i wont be seeing her again.    

I attend a medical practice in Scotland.   My experience is that the Health Service, at least in our G P practice has everything in place to ensure that the patient does the right thing and has access to the right advice and medication.    I might be the weak link in the chain  Its a struggle to do everything right but I'm trying.

Hi, I was diagnosed with 'Arnold Chiari Malformation' June 2006. I had no idea what this condition was. The consultant Neurologist didn't tell me anything about it. I had to find out for myself via the internet. I found out that it is a rare condition of the brain. I have asked many health people, GP's, nurses, consultants and not one of them new anything about it except for when I was taken to hospital A&E for a C.O.P.D. flare-up. roughly about 4 years ago. An Australian Dr. asked me about my health conditions (as they do in A&E) and he knew what I was talking about and we discussed this rare condition of the brain for quite some time. It made me feel better in myself that I finally had someone to talk to about my condition and who understood what I was talking about. I never came across anyone else to talk to about Chiari since then. Apparently there is only 1 person in 1000 who has this condition. I have a few of the symptoms but, I am not as bad as the people I have read about although, it can be life threatening for some people.

I think the GP's should educate themselves for this condition. I had to have a bad argument with my GP for him to send me to the hospital to see a consultant to get checked out (I thought at the time my GP was going to throw me off his books) When the GP got the results through he was more considerate towards me and treated me differently. I take Pregabalin 75mg for this condition 1 in the morning and 1 at night. I have never been back to the hospital for any other check-ups on this condition since! Arnold Chiari Malformation can only be found with an MRI test.

Best Wishes  Astra!

Hi again, I too was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about 6 years ago now. I wasn't given any medication or had any check-ups for roughly about a year and, I didn't take note of what the Dr told me really, I was in denial until I had a regular blood test and then I had to see the diabetic nurse who put me on Metformin 500. I only had to take 1 a day, then I had to take 2. Now I'm on 3 a day. The nurse told me she wanted me to go on insulin at one point and I refused it, thats why I'm on a high dose of Metformin.

 My mum had Type1 Diabetes all her life. I should have taken note back then. She had been in hospital many times with coma's.

Astra!