England (UK) and diabetes

[Guest guest]

Hi, life in England with diabetes is good and bad. Yes

we get free precriptions (they now cost over £6 a

prescription) and we get free eye tests. If we are

lucky we have a kind diabetes nurse linked to our GP

so we might be able to get a free bs meter (I was

lucky).

The downside? The wait. And boy do I mean the wait. I

was diagnosed and how to wait over 2 weeks to see the

diabetes nurse then had to wait another 2 weeks to

actually get prescribed the metformin. The GP said to

take the metformin 3 times a day the nurse said to

start with it twice. I listened to the nurse then got

a lecture from the GP when she found out! We only see

the nurse, never the GP.

The nhs has recommended that type 2's only test

themselves once or twice a day! I got a lecture saying

that 6-7 times a day (I was new mind you) was too

much. The nurse said, one day test yourself before

lunch the next after dinner. How can we determine what

affects us by not testing?

I was diagnosed in May of this year. I am still

waiting to see a dietician. Haven't been able to see a

foot doctor yet. There is a diabetes clinic at the

local hospital but when I mentioned it to my GP she

laughed and said that the waiting list was terrible

and I wouldn't be able to get on it.

This apparently is normal. I have a friend who funnily

enough was diagnosed the same week as me, but by a

different GP. Poor thing has had it worse.

So life here has its good and bad points. We don't

have the low carb food stuffs that you have. Or if we

can find say low carb pasta, a second morgage has to

be taken out. Normal pasta = 40 pence. Low carb pasta

= £3.79.

Have a good day.

=====

Carol

T2:dx 5/19/04

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[Guest guest]

> Carol

I agree with every word. I was diagnosed with diabetes last August

and I have recently had my medication changed to a new insulin

called Lantus.In a recent visit to my GP I was told to cut down my

blood sugar tests to twice a week because of the expense.

Fortunately I have private insurance and I went to see a Consultant

who did not agree with the comments made by my GP and strongly

recommends that I test at least twice a day preferably before eating

and before going to bed.

I do not feel confident that I am getting the proper care and

attention from my GP, considering that the diabetes is fairly new to

me and I hope that my private insurance will continue to fund my

treatment.

Take care

Tony UK

> Hi, life in England with diabetes is good and bad. Yes

> we get free precriptions (they now cost over £6 a

> prescription) and we get free eye tests. If we are

> lucky we have a kind diabetes nurse linked to our GP

> so we might be able to get a free bs meter (I was

> lucky).

>

> The downside? The wait. And boy do I mean the wait. I

> was diagnosed and how to wait over 2 weeks to see the

> diabetes nurse then had to wait another 2 weeks to

> actually get prescribed the metformin. The GP said to

> take the metformin 3 times a day the nurse said to

> start with it twice. I listened to the nurse then got

> a lecture from the GP when she found out! We only see

> the nurse, never the GP.

>

> The nhs has recommended that type 2's only test

> themselves once or twice a day! I got a lecture saying

> that 6-7 times a day (I was new mind you) was too

> much. The nurse said, one day test yourself before

> lunch the next after dinner. How can we determine what

> affects us by not testing?

>

> I was diagnosed in May of this year. I am still

> waiting to see a dietician. Haven't been able to see a

> foot doctor yet. There is a diabetes clinic at the

> local hospital but when I mentioned it to my GP she

> laughed and said that the waiting list was terrible

> and I wouldn't be able to get on it.

>

> This apparently is normal. I have a friend who funnily

> enough was diagnosed the same week as me, but by a

> different GP. Poor thing has had it worse.

>

> So life here has its good and bad points. We don't

> have the low carb food stuffs that you have. Or if we

> can find say low carb pasta, a second morgage has to

> be taken out. Normal pasta = 40 pence. Low carb pasta

> = £3.79.

>

> Have a good day.

>

> =====

> Carol

>

> T2:dx 5/19/04

>

>

>

>

>

> ___________________________________________________________ALL-NEW

Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun!

http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com